From Deseret News archives:

Picture Bride

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 1995 12:00 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

When we first meet Riyo (Youki Kudoh) in Tokyo, circa 1918, she is a shy 16-year-old orphan, and she's beginning to weaken to her aunt's urging that she allow the local matchmaker to find her a good husband.

Riyo is still wary when the matchmaker comes up with Matsuji (Akira Takayama), a Japanese man toiling in Hawaii's sugar cane fields. She's not crazy about the prospect of being a mail-order bride but begins to give in when she sees a photograph of the handsome, young prospective husband and reads his gentle letters and romantic haiku.

Still feeling trepidation, Riyo sails for Hawaii with other "picture brides," only to be profoundly disappointed when she discovers that Matsuji (Akira Takayama) is about 20 years older than his picture, and the years of hard labor in the fields are evident in his features, and his living conditions are less than luxurious.

Riyo's first instinct is to run away, to sail back home. Then, ironically, she finds that Matsuji is also disappointed — he wanted someone tougher and stronger than this seemingly spoiled city girl. Riyo accepts the challenge, only to discover that Hawaii can be as harsh as it is lush. And she still saves her money to sail back to Japan, keeping her distance from Matsuji.

Story continues below

"Picture Bride" is the story of how this unlikely couple comes together, gets together and stays together, despite circumstances that continually put the success of their union in doubt. And while there's little question that co-writer/director Kayo Hatta has romanticized the material and relies on movie conventions for much of the plot, the characters are disarming and the film itself is quite engrossing.

Structured as an episodic tale, "Picture Bride" unfolds a bit like a puzzle. There are many pieces of many different shapes and sizes, and how they will all eventually fit together is interpretive much of the way.

Hatta's direction is unsure in places, and there are moments of awkwardness that give away the fact that this is a first-time, low-budget filmmaking effort.

On the other hand, she has a knack for allowing background color and seemingly minor subplots to offer insight in and around the central story. Hatta is strongest with quiet, reflective scenes, which provide some of the film's most enjoyable moments.

The low-key performances by Kudoh and Takayama are excellent, though Tamlyn Tomita tends to steal the show as Riyo's spirited best friend. And it's certainly a pleasure to see legendary Japanese superstar Toshiro Mifune, who shows up in a cameo as the narrator of a traveling silent-movie show. (The gorgeous cinematography by Claudio Rocha should also be noted.)

"Picture Bride" is a real crowd-pleaser, and it's easy to see why it won the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

The film is rated PG-13 for violence, sex, brief nudity and vulgarity.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Movie Info
Rated PG for violence, vulgarity, brief nudity, sex.

Cast: Youki Kudoh, Akira Takayama, Tamlyn Tomita, CaryHiroyuki Tagawa, Toshiro Mifune.
FIND LOCAL MOVIE SHOWTIMES
previousnext

Latest comments

'Changing the definition of marriage will change its social functions.' -...

This reminds my of the group Monty Python who might write, "When danger...

TCU dominates all-MWC honors

I'm a BYU fan and I totally agree with the conference selections. How can you...

TCU dominates all-MWC honors

I too was a little disappointed that more BYU players weren't included. I...

Most Utahns unhappy with Obama

You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out...

TCU dominates all-MWC honors

Max did win a conference championship in 2007... but it was downhill from there.

LOL i hate both schools Go Aggies

Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal

...not proud of Max Hall's comments. In his classless and hateful comments,...

Is it any surprise after his stimulus plans to "prevent unemployment from...

...and neither will Whit. That is, unless he changes schools. Urban Meyer...

Advertisements