A Story Written with Water: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1965
Director: Kiju Yoshida
Writers: Toshirô Ishidô, Rumiko Kora, Kiju Yoshida
Cast: Mariko Okada, Yasunori Irikawa, Ruriko Asaoka, Isao Yamagata, Shin Kishida, Masakazu Kuwayama, Keiko Yumi

Release Date: March 25th, 2024 (UK)
Approximate running time: 120 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"Telling the story of a man torn between his fiance and the familial bond of his mother, Yoshida creates a dazzling narrative that uses flashbacks to tell its story of obsession and desire." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "A Story Written with Water was transferred in High-Definition by Nikkatsu Corporation and supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file."

A Story Written with Water comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.3 GB

Feature: 32.6 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option: a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras: 

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 25 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Kiju Yoshida (2 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Mariko Okada (11 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital Stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with scholar Jennifer Coates, author of Making Icons: Repetition and the Female Image in Japanese Cinema, 1945-1964 (21 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Ebb and Flow: The Decline of the Studios, The Growth of Independent Production and Kiju Yoshida Stories Written on Water written by Alexander Jacoby, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Directed by Kiju Yoshida, whose other notable films are Eros + Massacre, Heroic Purgatory, and Coup d'Etat.

The narrative revolves around a young man whose bond with his mother is driving a wedge between him and his fiancee.

Though Kiju Yoshida considers himself an anti-auteur, he has a strong visual eye. His films have many striking moments, and many of them are filled with symbolism. One such moment in A Story Written with Water that springs to mind is the way that he juxtaposes the mother's face over the fiance's face during lovemaking.

At two hours in length, the well-constructed narrative does an amazing job holding your attention. Despite a deliberately paced narrative, there is never an issue with pacing. Another strength of the narrative is how it gives key moments an ample amount of time to resonate. With a phenomenal finale, which perfectly summarizes A Story Written with Water, the title of the film.

The non-linear narrative takes place in present and past time periods, and there is even one moment that takes place in neither time frame. Also, when the narrative shifts from one time period to another, it does so in a way that never announces itself. That said, despite its non-linear narrative that jumps around from present to past, the result is a story that is easy to digest.

Mariko Okada (Floating Clouds) portrays Shizuka, the mother of the protagonist. Though she was only 32 at the time, her casting in a role that would usually go to a much older actress actually works in A Story Written with Water’s favor. She delivers an exceptional performance that is utterly convincing, and there is never a moment where you doubt her authenticity.

Another performance of note is Yasunori Irikawa (The Living Skeleton) in the role of the protagonist, Shizuo. He delivers an equally powerful performance that complements Mariko Okada’s performance. That said, the rest of the cast are very good in their roles.

Though A Story Written with Water deals with taboo subject matter, when it comes to intimate moments between son and mother, they are never explicit. Also, without giving away too much about the plot, there is a subplot involving who the protagonist's father really is that is connected to the film’s main theme of incest. Ultimately, A Story Written with Water is an extraordinary melodrama that quickly draws you in and lingers on in your mind after its final haunting image.

A Story Written with Water gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Note: This is a single pressing that is limited to 3,000 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer