本片是山中貞雄的遺作，也是他的“時代劇的庶民電影”的代表作之一。他在片中吸取了美國電影和法國電影的影響，並受到摯友兼老師小津安二郎的“小庶民電影 ”美學影響，將歷史上江戶時代的小人物形像注入現代庶民的語言、性格、行止、靈魂，成就了一部難得的社會現實主義的佳作。故事發生於十八世紀德川幕府時代，以悲涼調子訴說德川幕府時期低下層的生活，開頭與結尾都是自殺場景，映照出舊時日本社會草根階層的悲哀。另外，山中的剪輯流暢自如，視覺風格鋒如日本繪畫，演員表演也很自然。此片公認為山中最好的作品，也是他僅存的三部電影之一。Humanity and Paper Balloons,unlike most other Japanese films of this period,is a historical film with a critical edge.Refusing to glorify samurai,the film insteaddeflates the myth around them with a gentle humanity. The film opens directly after a penurious ronin samurai has taken his own life.At his funeral his neighbors from his slum mourn his death. Here the film introduces another ronin samurai who lives in equal poverty. Having pawned his sword for food,the samurai searches for work but to no avail. The family's only income comes from the little balloon children's toys made by the wife.Out of desperation,the samurai abets in an attempted kidnapping. After finding out,the wife kills him in his sleep and then takes her own life, closing the film's narrative circle.Brian Whitener, All Movie Guide.
小妮扛枪影片的精彩影评
北平宝禅胡同十三号原为清朝郑王府，因居住者时常莫名死亡，成为北平十大凶宅之一。上海一对夫妇租下此宅，守夜老人给二人讲了老宅的故事。八国联军入侵，郑王之父因不让洋人占用宅院被洋人以马拖死，从此宅中便有古怪。郑王之子翁不务正业，郑王也无可奈何。祭祖之夜，郑王手脚痉挛而死。民国之后，翁迫于生计卖掉宅院，其母上吊而死，其妹不幸沦落妓院，一军阀将军赎她为妾，却对她百般凌辱。其女长大后又受日军侮辱，从此宅内常有女鬼夜哭……