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.
1914年,第一次世界大战爆发,1917年,法、国,意和其他欧洲国家相续结成联盟,决心一并抗击德国。很多胸怀远大志向的热血青年志愿加入了这场空前绝后的欧洲大陆的战争,并且希望通过自己的微薄努力结束战争,让大家重新过上安详平静的生活。
失去家族牧场的布雷恩(詹姆斯·弗兰科 James Franco 饰)、为了光复家族荣耀的威廉,想穿越大西洋旅行的布里格斯,因种族原因被逐出美国的黑人拳击手等三十八个年轻人为了一个共同的目标加入了海外作战空军部队。他们在在法国将军赛诺特(让·雷诺 Jean Reno 饰)和美国士兵瑞德·卡西迪(马丁·亨德森 Martin Henderson 饰)的辅助和领导下,每个人都真正了解到为荣誉和和平而战的意义,所有人组成了“拉斐特飞行小队”。可战争的残酷和现实大大超过了这群热血青年的想象,死亡每天都在靠近,危险处处不在......
Tom, a high school senior who is required by his father to find a new residence within 2 weeks, finds himself in a demanding relationship with a fashion photographer who is older than him, while secretly being in love with his close friend Gilad.