Hiroshi Shimizu

Ornamental Hairpin

Ornamental Hairpin

Two bruised souls enact a tender, hesitant romance in Hiroshi Shimizu’s alternately poignant and playful wartime love story. A soldier (Chishu Ryu) is forced to prolong his stay at a rural spa when he accidentally cuts his foot on the titular object. Soon enough he tracks down its lovely owner (Kinuyo Tanaka) and finds himself smitten.

Film Info

  • Japan
  • 1941
  • 71 minutes
  • Black & White
  • 1.33:1
  • Japanese

Available In

Collector's Set

Eclipse Series 15: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu

Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu

DVD Box Set

4 Discs

$47.96

Ornamental Hairpin
Cast
Kinuyo Tanaka
Emi
Hiroko Kawasaki
Okiku
Tatsuo Saito
Professor Katae
Chishu Ryu
Nanmura
Shinichi Himori
Hiroyasu
Hideko Mimura
Hiroyasu's wife
Kawara Kanji
Old man
Yokoyama Jun
Taro
Otsuka Masayoshi
Jiro
Credits
Director
Hiroshi Shimizu
Screenplay
Kihan Nagase
Based on the story “Yottsu no Yubune” by
Masuji Ibuse
Cinematography
Suketaro Inokai
Art direction
Isamu Motoki
Music
Takaaki Asai
Sound
Koichi Nakamura

Current

Eclipse Series 15: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu
Eclipse Series 15: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu

This long-underappreciated giant of Japanese cinema was an innovative visual stylist and a born storyteller who preferred to make films about outsiders.

By Michael Koresky