The Shiinomi School (1955) *

Even though the director Hiroshi Shimizu also wrote the screenplay here (based on Saburô Yamamoto's novel), the film is quite boring and forgettable.

Ohara Shosuke-san (1949) ***

Very original film about a generous old man who looses all his possessions by helping others. Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Matsuo Kishi.

Children Of The Beehive (1948) ****

Written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.

Sayon's Bell (1943) ***

Beautiful film shot by Hiroshi Shimizu in Taiwan. Story of a native girl who dies in a rainstorm. A fine screenplay by Kihan Nagase, Torashirô Saitô and Hiroshi Ushida. Based on a true story.

Ornamental Hairpin (1941) ****

Written by Masuji Ibuse and Yoshitomo Nagase.

Introspection Tower (1941) ***

A Japanese "Road To Life" (1931), but far more complex and subtle. Shimizu wrote the screenplay based on a novel by Ryuji Kumano and Yoshio Toyoshima.

Notes Of An Itinerant Performer (1941) **

A Hiroshi Shimizu "hahamono" film that feels like it was based on a script rejected by Kenji Mizoguchi. The actual script was written by Taketaka Yagisawa and Kihan Nagase (who did a far better job on Shimizu's later film, "Sayon's Bell").

Record Of A Female Doctor (1941) *

A boring script by Yoshiro Tsuji.

Acorns (1941) ***

Written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.

Nobuko (1940) ***

A Japanese "Dead Poets Society", directed by Hiroshi Shimizu. An excellent script by Yoshitomo Nagase (who also wrote Shimizu's "Ornamental Hairpin"), based on a novel by Bunroku Shishi.

Four Seasons Of Children (1939) ***

Written by Joji Tsubota. The film is available here.

The Masseurs And A Woman (1938) *****

A cinematic miracle written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu. Arguably his greatest film, a very subtle narrative rollercoaster that constantly plays with its viewers' expectations. It begins like a comedy, but then slowly becomes a whodunit, before touching on some melodrama in order to finally settle for a touch of romance. One of the least predictable films ever made.

Family Diary (1938) *

Very conventional melodrama about marriage. An unusually weak script by an otherwise excellent writer Tadao Ikeda, based on a dreadful story by Nobuko Yoshiya.

A Star Athlete (1937) *****

People like me and Ozu get films made by hard work, but Shimizu is a genius... - Kenji Mizoguchi

Quirky and very original little film about a group of college boys in the countryside conducting a series of military style exercises. The first half is surprising and easy-going, while the final segment is truly hilarious. An amazing script by Tobei Kujiraya and Masao Arata (who wrote some of Yasujiro Ozu's best films, including "An Inn In Tokyo"). Superbly directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.

Children In The Wind (1937) ***

Written by Joji Tsubota.

The Golden Demon (1937) *

A very weak film from Hiroshi Shimizu. Based on a unremarkable novel by Koyo Ozaki.

Forget Love For Now (1937) *

Saito Ryosuke ("A Hen In The Wind") wrote the script of this average "hahamono" melodrama, directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.

Arigato-san (1936) *****

People like me and Ozu get films made by hard work, but Shimizu is a genius... - Kenji Mizoguchi

A unique masterpiece of the Japanese cinema. Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, it's a chronicle of a bus ride across a long mountain road. The delicate narrative exquisitely threads together various journeys taken by a disparate group of people all travelling from one place to another for various reasons with the small interjections of other passersby on the roadside. Shimizu wrote the script based on Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari Kawabata's novel.

Hero Of Tokyo (1935) **

One of the best of Hiroshi Shimizu's silent films. Still, a heavy "hahamono" melodrama very different from most of his later sound films. The script was written by Takehiko Minamoto.

Eclipse (1934) **

Silent melodrama by Hiroshi Shimizu. The script was written by Masao Arata, based on a story by Masao Kume.