Alone on the Pacific

Taiheiyo hitori-botchi

Japan

1963

104 Min

Color

2.35:1

Japanese

Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
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CAST Yujiro Ishihara, Masayuki Mori, Kinuyo Tanaka, Ruriko Asaoka, Hajime Hana

MUSIC Yasushi Akutagawa, Tôru Takemitsu

Melbourne (Programme 1), Edinburgh

Director

Born on November 20, 1915, in Ujiyamada, Mie Prefecture, Ichikawa first gained western recognition during the 1950s and 60s with several bleak films, particularly two acclaimed antiwar films, The Burmese Harp and Fires on the Plain.

Ichikawa began his career as a cartoonist, and collaborated with his wife, screenwriter Natto WADA, until 1965. His films are generally regarded as dark and bleak, interspersed with sparks of humanity, and he often intertwines comedy and tragedy within the same story. He also has a flair for technical expertise, irony, detachment, and a drive for realism across all genres. After Akira KUROSAWA’s departure, no other Japanese director has come close to Ichikawa’s level of recognition, the power of his films, and commercial success.

Ichikawa passed away on February 13, 2008. At age 91 (2006), he was still active as a director, completing a feature-length film, The Inugamis, and directing one segment of the Japanese fantasy, Ten Nights of Dream… read more

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Trolley Freak

18Mar11

Stirring tale of Kenichi Horie's quest to travel across the Pacific Ocean single-handedly in his tiny yacht from Osaka to San Francisco. Ichikawa here achieves what Wilder achieved in The Spirit Of St. Louis - to make a potentially difficult subject interesting for the audience. Excellent use of widescreen throughout. Another winner from Japan!

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