★ 6 / 10
A Fairly Entertaining Japanese Drama
Uriah43
Having just completed high school, a teenage girl born out of wedlock named "Yuko Ono" (Ayako Wakao), is sent to Tokyo to live with her father, "Mr. Ono"…
Having just completed high school, a teenage girl born out of wedlock named "Yuko Ono" (Ayako Wakao), is sent to Tokyo to live with her father, "Mr. Ono" (Kinzo Shin), and his family after her grandmother's death. Despite being a pleasant young woman, Yuko struggles to adjust primarily because her half-brothers and half-sister exhibit hostility toward her. Similarly, her stepmother is also unwelcoming. However, with the support of her former teacher, "Keikichi Futami" (Kenji Sugawara), and a young suitor named "Ryosuke Hirooka" (Keizo Kawasaki), she embarks on a quest to find her real mother who abandoned her at a young age. The only challenge is that she has no idea where to begin her search. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will simply say that this was an entertaining film, largely due to the light-hearted approach adopted by the director (Yasuzo Masumura). Interestingly, although Ayako Wakao is certainly attractive, she hasn't quite blossomed into the incredible beauty she would later become. But that is just my opinion. In any case, although this certainly wasn't a great picture by any means, it filled the time reasonably well, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
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★ 9 / 10
The Blue Sky Maiden
frostbow
Yuuko has been raised by her grandmother in the countryside while her father and siblings live in Tokyo. Shortly after graduating high-school, she is told the…
Yuuko has been raised by her grandmother in the countryside while her father and siblings live in Tokyo. Shortly after graduating high-school, she is told the reason for this unusual arrangement. And when she finally moves in with her family, she has to sleep under the stairs like Harry Potter, and work in the house as a maid.
At this point, I thought I knew how the story would play out, but that was premature. What follows is a fast-paced, lively, and sometimes surprising story. The actors are doing a 90 min speed-run through various settings, packed with people and items. The music is prominent with at least two full jazz songs performed. It feels much more American than any other Japanese movie I have seen. Or maybe it is a light critique of the American influence?
A driving force is the wholesome heroine Yuuko (Wakao Ayako). While she has a submissive side, she has her own will and agency, taking actions to derail the plot. Add to this that she also looks strong and healthy. All in all an awesome protagonist.
The large cast contains many likeable characters, who contribute to the encouraging mood, and sometimes make their own moves. The step-mother is not too much of a caricature, and has a clear and understandable reason to hate Yuuko.
The main plot is not very interesting or deep. What is interesting is the individual scenes. What would seem cliché on paper is given energy by the fire in Yuuko's eyes.
Most scenes have a twist in the form of something happening in the background, a weird side character, the enourmous telephones, or just the overwhelming number of people crowding the small spaces.
All lines are not delivered perfectly, but with so many people chatting, dropping pop-cultural refences, or quoting philosophers, there is no time to dwell on imperfections.
There are not many jokes, and there is a bit of conflict and tragedy, but the overall mood is comedy. It will surely increase the happiness in your life.
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7.2/10
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