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.
流浪之月影片的精彩影评
75岁的桃子独自生活在东京郊外。20岁时为避免包办婚姻逃到东京以来，桃子凭自己意愿组建家庭并幸福生活了55年。在丈夫猝死之后，和平度过暮年的计划遭到挫败，成为独居老人的桃子却意外收获了三个精神伙伴，于是重拾昔日活力，伴随相互交织的回忆和现实，重新审视过往的一生。 日本名导冲田修一的新作改编自63岁出道的日本女作家若竹千佐子的同名自传体小说，老戏骨田中裕子饰演主人公桃子，苍井优饰演20-34岁的桃子。