Mikio Naruse has been one of Japan's traditionally overlooked directors -- never as well known in the west as Kurosawa or Ozu, and even at home often dismissed as a mainstream, melodramatic director of "women's pictures." But this was never an accurate portrait, and thankfully, there's a new wave of interest in his work, with this 3-film box set leading the way. These 3 films show Naruse as a true original, exploring the domestic space, the impact of social structures on private lives, and especially the roles of women in society. He does all this with a restrained, un-showy hand that probably contributed to his low profile, but upon rediscovery it's clear that these films are remarkable despite the lack of flashy visuals. "Repast" focuses on a discontented young couple whose troubles come to the fore when the husband's young niece shows up, demonstrating to the wife just how little love or attention she gets, and how much drudgery she puts up with. But the film's ultimate message is much more ambiguous and complicated than a simple feminist awakening. This is even more true of "Sound of the Mountain," which again depicts a dissolving marriage, and the close bond that develops between a young woman and her loutish husband's father. Finally, "Flowing" takes Naruse's concern for women to its logical conclusion, with a lively and elegaic portrayal of life in a geisha house, towards the end of the geisha era. All three films sparkle with the vibrance and realism of these characters, and Naruse's simple style perfectly complements his stories, particularly in his mastery of editing rhythms. The transfers look uniformly beautiful, especially on the latter two films, and the box comes with a hefty booklet full of informative essays, as well as audio commentaries on all 3 films. Absolutely essential viewing.

Nothing less than three master-peices in a single box - and with a 180 page book to boot. If only western character based drama could be so complex and rich. Not only the protagenists, but also the periphery characters in these films are detailed almost beyond imagination. And brought to life by little inconsistencies, personal motivations and desires.
Repast and The Sound of Mountain are two of the most heart-rending and poignant tellings of personal suffering and sacrifice I have ever encountered in cinema. Flowing, though no less engaging, is slighly less personal, looking as it does at a group of women rather than just one. Not only are the characters genuinely 3-dimensional, but so are the movies themsleves. Often down beat they often display moments of tenderness and even humour.
Naruse, from this boxset alone, appears to me a master of his arts, story telling and film making.
The DVDs are excellent as is expected from Eureka! MoC and all of the essays in the 180 page book are worth reading. In fact I urge you to read them.
This introducion to Naruse has me hungry for more, and I am desperately awaiting my next fix. Do yourselves a favour and experience these films.