As always, TIFF giveth and taketh. I found out pretty late about a really interesting Naruse retrospective at TIFF. There are 6 new prints (though I have to say the one for When a Woman Ascends the Stairs had quite a few moments it went out of focus, though maybe that was the projectionist's fault?). But because TIFF lets its members book for free, and then there is no revenue with these films, they banish them to the tiny top floor theatres, and no one else can get in. It is the silliest membership program out there, leading to so many people being shut out. I simply cannot support this, and indeed the whole membership thing made far more sense pre-COVID.
That said, I have been able to book tickets to 4 films:
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Scattered Clouds
Floating Clouds
Late Chrysanthemums
I will keep trying every night or so to see if a seat for Flowing, Yearning or Sound of the Mountain opens up, though generally this won't happen until 3 or 4 days before each screening. Sigh.
I actually had to move a ticket for Public Consumption at Factory after Woman Ascends the Stairs opened up, but it was worth it.
I will go from knowing a bit about Naruse but never having seen any of his films to having seen some of his core films. I actually have an awful lot of these on DVDs (mostly from the UK!), but I find it is better for me to watch in the theatre, as I am locked in and focus much more under those conditions. (I mean as long as the sight lines aren't terrible as they are at the Fox.)
