Eclipse Series 48: Kinuyo Tanaka Directs (Criterion Collection)

Esteemed actress Kinuyo Tanaka made her feature directing bow with "Love Letter" (1953), which followed a repatriated GI (Masayuki Mori) searching for his lost love and his purpose. In the Yasujiro Ozu-scripted "The Moon Has Risen" (1955), Tanaka offered a comic look at a widower (Chishu Ryu) dealing with the contemporary mores of his three daughters. Tanaka's acclaimed "Forever a Woman" (1955) compassionately and frankly followed a divorcée (Yumeji Tsukioka) confronted with a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis. In the color historical epic "The Wandering Princess" (1960), Tanaka limned the tale of a young aristocrat (Machiko Kyo) marrying into a royal family that will soon meet a dark destiny. Tanaka confronted Japan's then-new abolition of prostitution in "Girls of the Night" (1961), as a sex worker (Chisako Hara) faced a fitful transition to a new life. Tanaka's last directing job was the 16th century-set "Love Under the Crucifix" (1962), about the foredoomed romance of a young woman (Ineko Arima) and a married, and Christian, samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai). 10 hrs. Total on three discs. Standard/Widescreen; Soundtrack: Japanese; Subtitles: English. In Japanese with English subtitles.