'A Hen in the Wind' is next Japanese Masters film

The next Masters of Japanese Cinema movie is Ozu Yasujiro’s 1948 film "A Hen in the Wind." It will screen at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Pickford Film Center.

"A Hen in the Wind" stars the great Tanaka Kinuyo, one of Ozu’s most frequent stars from the 1930s, as well as other regulars from that time, including Sakamoto Takeshi. 

Tanaka’s character is a young mother awaiting the repatriation of her husband from World War II, who is struggling with money when a sudden crisis leads to a radical decision with far-reaching consequences. 

"A Hen in the Wind" is a great demonstration Ozu’s versatility. WWU librarian and series curator Jeff Purdue spoke of the film’s emotional resonance and explained how Ozu’s quiet style can serve a variety of types of stories.

“I find it to be a remarkable film with some of the most striking images in Ozu’s work, and one of my favorites from him, even though it’s also a wrenching experience,” explained Purdue. “I’ve seen this film with an audience on a few occasions, including in classes I’ve taught, and it never fails to elicit strong emotions.”

Co-sponsored by Western Libraries and the Pickford Film Center, the Masters of Japanese Cinema is one of the Pickford's longest running and most loved series, featuring some of the best films in World Cinema with movies that span both decades and genres. Each film in the series begins with an introduction from select speakers including local professors, artists, and educators.

A Hen in the Wind will be introduced by Sam Ho, who is a curator, researcher, teacher, writer, and critic. Based in Hong Kong and the United States, Ho specializes in the study of Hong Kong cinema, but has also written extensively and curated programs on various aspects of cinema.  His writing has appeared online, in books, academic journals, newspapers, and magazines, and has been translated into many different languages, including Chinese, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Korean.  He is also involved in film education, having taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

To learn more about upcoming films featured in this series, click on this link. For more information about the Masters of Japanese Cinema Series, contact Jeff.Purdue@wwu.edu.