In 1959, Yasujiro Ozu remade his 1934 silent classic _A Story of Floating Weeds_ in color with the celebrated cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (_Rashomon, Ugetsu_). Setting his later version in a seaside location, Ozu otherwise preserves the details of his elegantly simple plot wherein an aging actor returns to a small town with his troupe and reunites with his former lover and illegitimate son, a scenario that enrages his current mistress and results in heartbreak for all. Together, the films offer a unique glimpse into the evolution of one of cinema's greatest directors. _A Story of Floating Weeds_ reveals Ozu in the midst of developing his mode of expression; _Floating Weeds_ reveals his distinct style at its pinnacle. In each, the director captures the joy and sadness in everyday life.

"The sheer beauty of Ozu's exquisite (and typically eccentric)  compositions and the expressive use of sound tell all you need know  about the characters, their emotions and relationships." - Geoff Andrew, Time Out

"Sooner or later, everyone who loves movies comes to Ozu. He is the quietest and gentlest of directors, the most humanistic, the most serene. But the emotions that flow through his films are strong and deep." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times