Twilight Saloon

Altman, Becker and Truffaut spring to mind at various times in this lovely, strange little film. Spatially and temporally enclosed - it takes place in the eponymous saloon during half a day - the film offers a fondly observed group portrait of Japan, soon after Uchida returned from Manchuria. One by one, the regulars of the crepuscular bar appear: the pianist who dreams of becoming a composer but has disappeared from the music world after a knifing; a stripper whose man has done her wrong; an elderly painter trying to make a living at pachinko; a young waitress considering elopement. The 'twilight' is more than just a time of day; here, it is a state of being, a suspension between past and present, between the camaraderie of the saloon and the harsh world outside. The roaming, inquisitive camera, poignant musical numbers, and Uchida's sympathy with the working class and downtrodden lend the film a graceful social density. The enduring charm of Twilight Saloon led to a recent remake, Take The "A" Train Someday, starring Chiaki Kuriyama of Kill Bill. (JQ)