Zigeunerweisen (1980) Tsigoineruwaizen

Movie Rating NR Contains: Strong Language Violence Sex Nudity Mature Situations

Director: Seijun Suzuki Movie Genre: Surrealism, Period-Piece Country: Japan Zigeunerweisen Score Card The following scores are based on a 0.0 to 10.0 rating scale Hover your mouse pointer over the name of each scoring category below for a description Direction: 6.8 Writing: 7.0 Acting: 6.5 Cinematography: 8.0 Sound and Score: 7.0 Functionality: 6.4 Presentation: 7.2 Genre Comparison: 7.5 General Comparison: 6.4 Overall: 6.8 Reviewed 2006-04-03 23:24:07

Zigeunerweisen, from Japanese B-movie auteur Seijun Suzuki, was his self-funded return to moviemaking after a long hiatus. This film was the first of what would later be known as the Taisho Trilogy. This series of movies is set during Japan's Taisho period, a time in the 1920s and 30s similar to America's Roaring Twenties. The title refers to a haunting classical violin piece with a famous recording error. This movie is the story of a love triangle between Aochi, a professor of German, Nakasago, his nomadic colleague, and Sono, the object of the two men's affections. Throughout the course of the story, Nakasago goes on several excursions, leaving his wife and child behind to await his return. While on one of Nakasago's tours, Aochi and Nakasago sleep with each other's wives. These infidelities cause both men to reevaluate themselves and their relationships with the women they love.

In this movie like all of Suzuki movies, the plot has been placed on the back burner. Suzuki chose to tell this story with a more figurative approach, rather than a narrative approach. He used surreal visuals and blatant symbolism to establish an accurate sense of dream logic. Scenes transition between time periods and certain characters have multiple incarnations. There is even a group of blind beggars caught in a similar love triangle that serves as the movie's chorus.

Zigeunerweisen was a rather highbrow picture for Suzuki, who was better known for his madcap yakuza creations. Since this movie is geared to a different audience than his yakuza works, the pacing is completely different. Suzuki paid a lot more attention to detail with this movie compared to the style of his other works. At times, this movie will seem to move at a snail's pace.

The quality of the video transfer on the Region 1 DVD leaves a lot to be desired. Suzuki's trademark vibrant colors come off as washed out and dull, making the video seem more like a VHS tape than a DVD. This may be a result of the deterioration in quality of the original 1980 print. A movie of this quality most definitely deserves a full restoration.

Overall, Zigeunerweisen is an excellent Seijun Suzuki film. Some fans of his zanier yakuza pieces may be turned off. The art house B-movie nature of this picture is not for everybody. Fans of Japanese surrealism, as well as fans of Suzuki's signature style should definitely take notice of Zigeunerweisen.