Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
My Ravishing
Written and photographed
By Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista
There was a soft knock on Okajima’s dorm room door. He was surprised to find the kind face of Hiroko. His buddy Yukimoto was pleased to find out his classmate Okajima had made a female friend. Couldn’t resist but ask the purpose of her visit. When Hiroko said, “I need to talk to Okajima, personally.” Yukimoto immediately saw himself out. Okajima went out the door with him with a puzzled look. In the background we could hear Bullet Dumas’ voice over “Nice one Pre!” to the laughter of the crowd, in between a playful guitar and occasional whistling that highlighted the humor in the scene.
Hiroko Kawasaki (Hiroko); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD (Shukujo to hige-淑女と髭) was part of the 16th International Silent Film Festival and was screened for free at RED CARPET Cinemas in Shangri La Plaza Mall, November 26, 2022.
Bullet Dumas; THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Providing the soundtrack and, yes, the occasional voice over, is one of the hottest young musicians in Bullet Dumas. His signature acoustic guitar was perfect for the light hearted, silent film from one of Japan’s masters in cinema. Presented by The Japan Foundation, SHOCHIKU and Embassy of Japan. Among the well-attended screening were Japanese Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Madame Yuko Koshikawa and Japan Foundation Director Ben Suzuki.
From right: Japanese Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Madame Yuko Koshikawa, Bullet Dumas (guitars and vocals), Jacques Dufourt (Percussion), Gabrielle Mendez (Percussion) and
Yuna Reguerra (bass). THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Bullet Dumas’ recognizable sound is his acoustic guitar. But for this performance he has a prestigious band in Jacques Dufourt (Percussion), Gabrielle Mendez (Percussion) and Yuna Reguerra (Bass). Gab Mendez even used a Korean ‘Buk’ (drum) to enhance the Asian sound. Yuna, already played for the opening silent film PICCADILY (from Great Britan) as part of the band ANAHATA, last November 24.
Gabrielle Mendez (Percussion) used the Korean ‘Buk’. THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free sduring the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa; THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Interpreting Ozu
Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa are two Japanese names that are revered around the world in filmmaking. Kurosawa has influenced names like Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino in his camera work, blocking and editing techniques. Ozu on the other hand, has a greater emphasis on story. His movies, while often comedic, offers somewhat deep philosophical and moral discourses.
Master storyteller and filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu; his 1931 film THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
You think you’re just watching a funny movie. You can definitely enjoy it at that level. But you’re left wondering, if Ozu was leaving a life lesson. Silent movies are usually black and white sometimes monotone sepia, blue or green, because of the technology of the era. But morally, Ozu’s work is not quite a stark contrast, not black and white at all. It’s as if Ozu wants audiences to figure out the life ‘lessons’ themselves, or have their own individual interpretations. Comedy is almost a consistent signature for him to deliver more complex ideas, especially in THE LADY AND THE BEARD.
Just like in the movie I WAS BORN BUT also screened in Shang Plaza in 2012 during the 6th Silent film festival. Read my full review here: Poor Men Who Are Great.
Okajima – Modern Day Samurai
The name Okajima seems to be a favorite of playwright, screenwriter and novelist Komatsu Kitamura. He used the same name for two of his works (as protagonist) but are two entirely different characters (as far as I can tell, not connected). TOKYO CHORUS (Tôkyô no kôrasu – 東京の合唱) and THE LADY AND THE BEARD. Both films directed by Yasujiro Ozu in 1931.
The film opens with a Kendo competition in college. Students in school uniform all baby faced. While a solitary masked figure is feared by his opponent. We soon find out why, he easily dispatches him almost just toying with him. When the face guard is removed we see a full bearded Kiichi Okajima played by actor Tokihiko Okada. Because of his thick full beard, and Kendo mastery, he seems like a man among boys.
Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
On his way home he sees a female con artist playing a trick on a helpless woman (Hiroko). But before she pockets the money he grabs it and returns it to the victim. He’s like a modern day samurai. The female con artist brings a couple of her cohorts to get back at Okajima. And they want to beat him up for rescuing that woman. As one of them attacked he deftly uses his cane to hit his attacker and trips the other guy. Doing it non clamantly and easily. And says something like, “Will you please stop bothering me?” At this point the criminals were terrified of him and ran away.
Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Bakya
Visually, he sticks out like a sore thumb. He’s an old soul who is more comfortable in a male kimono and wooden clogs. Which Filipinos would find particularly funny. The term for wooden clogs in Filipino is Bakya. Which has the connotation of being cheap, commonplace and most of all out of fashion. That’s what he essentially is, even in 1920s Tokyo, where nearly everyone is wearing a 3 piece suit, driving cars. Okajima is out of fashion.
Tokihiko Okada (Okajima) wearing wooden clogs / sandals; Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Okajima also has trouble dealing with the opposite sex. He’s a little bit awkward and shy but more than that is unable to recognize their intentions or when they’re joking. He’s more socially inept than anything. We see this when his wealthy BFF Teruo Yukimoto invites him to his sister’s birthday party. The sister Ikuko and all the female guests are disgusted with Okajima’s beard. When asked to dance, performs a kata from kendo instead. Bullet Dumas’ light hearted guitar and humming make the scene even funnier and enjoyable.
Bullet Dumas and band; THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Hiroko
When they graduate, Okajima can be seen for the first time in a suit because of a job interview. And he gets rejected, because of his scruffy beard. But the secretary of the office just happens to be Hiroko the lady he rescued from the con artists. He doesn’t even remember her.
Hiroko Kawasaki (Hiroko); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
The name of the character is also the first name of the actress playing her: Hiroko Kawasaki. That’s why she visited his dorm room. She pleads with him to shave his beard so they can hire him. When Okajima explains to her why he has a beard, the camera cuts to a poster of Abe Lincoln on his wall. He said, “You know why Lincoln had a beard? To avoid women.” Hiroko, however, manages to convince him because he was also desperate to get a job. And it works, he immediately gets a job as hotel clerk.
Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Faith and Confidence
There are still more interesting plot twists. So if you do decide to watch it online or future screenings you have a lot to look forward to in the story. However, the live music and voice overs by Dumas was something unique for that special night in RED CARPET Cinemas. There are so many more funny scenes and details viewers can pick up like the giant Laurel and Hardy poster in Okajima’s dorm room, which may reveal Ozu’s influence as well.
Because of Hiroko’s faith that Okajima can better himself, it starts a sequence of events that improves his life. Shaving the beard set into motion other positive incidents. And by extension improves the lives of those around him. Okajima gains confidence after he gets a job. More than this is Hiroko’s confidence in herself. They both exhibited faith in the capacity for people to change.
In particular, Hiroko’s faith was rewarded because she knew the truth in her heart: true love is stronger than any kind of jealousy or insecurity.
3rd from right: Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Madame Yuko Koshikawa, (far right) JFM Dir Ben Suzuki, from left: Honobono Real Estate Exec Sophia A. Yara, Philippine United Okinawa Association VP Asahiko Yara and Marubeni Philippines Corporation President & CEO Shigeru Shimoda. THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
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From left: JFM Asst Dir Wataru Abe, Bullet Dumas and Khavn Dela Cruz at the musician’s roundtable, RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. The activity was part of the 16th Silent Film Festival. Photo by Jude Bautista
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Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Talahib with Bullet Dumas and band; THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
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Ichirô Tsukida (Teruo Yukimoto); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Yuna Reguerra (bass); THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
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2nd from left: Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Madame Yuko Koshikawa, Inst Cervantes Cultural Dir Jose Fons Guardiola, Clarisse Lucban and (far left) JFM Dir Ben Suzuki. THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Choreographer and filmmaker Paul Alexander Morales and JFM Dir. Ben Suzuki. THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista (31)
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Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Bullet Dumas and band; THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
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Satoko Date – Modern Girl (Satoko); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Gabrielle Mendez (Percussion) used the Korean ‘Buk’. THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free sduring the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista (39)
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Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. (42)
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From left: Yuna Reguerra (bass), Bullet Dumas (guitars and vocals), Jacques Dufourt (Percussion) and Gabrielle Mendez (Percussion) provided the soundtrack for Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD. The screening and performance was attended for free as part of the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Center: Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Madame Yuko Koshikawa, Bullet Dumas, (far left): JFM Asst Dir. Wataru Abe, from right: Gabrielle Mendez (Percussion) Jacques Dufourt (Percussion), and Yuna Reguerra (bass). Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
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From left: Animahenasyon Festival Dir. Ricky Orellana, Bullet Dumas, Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) Pres. Rosemarie Roque and NCCA Cinema Committee Chair Teddy Co. Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista
From left: Tokihiko Okada (Okajima), Ichirô Tsukida (Teruo Yukimoto) and Toshiko Iizuka (Ikuko). Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
Tokihiko Okada (Okajima); Yasujiro Ozu’s THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
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Master storyteller and filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu; his 1931 film THE LADY AND THE BEARD was screened for free during the 16th Silent Film Festival held at RED CARPET Cinemas, Shang Plaza Mall, Nov 26, 2022.
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Text and Photos by Jude Bautista