Diary of a Mad Old Man (1962)
Utsugi, a seventy-seven-year-old man of refined tastes who is recovering from a stroke, discovers that, while his body is decaying, his libido still rages on -- unwittingly sparked by the gentle, kindly attentions of his daughter-in-law Satsuko, a chic, flashy dancer with a shady past. Pitiful and ridiculous as he is, Utsugi is without a trace of self-pity, and his diary shines with self-effacing good humor.
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Too much of everything
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Diary of a Mad Old Man tells a tale it is a journal of a seventy-seven-year-old man Tokusuke Rôjin, a man of refined tastes who is slowly recovering from a debilitating stroke. Tokusuke discovers that, while his body is deteriorating, he still has strong urges, his libido still rages on. Is it any wonder with all the gentle and kindly attentions from his beautiful daughter-in-law Satsuko (Ayako Wakao) a chic woman with a shady past. Old age has left him pathetic and ridiculous but Tokusuke carries on without a trace of self-pity, his diary reflects this state of mind, it is filled with self-effacing good humour. This marvellous bittersweet film examines the relationship between our sexual desire and the will to live, weaving in the hilarious with a touch of poignancy. The film was adapted by director Keigo Kimura from a novel by the famous much filmed, modernist author Jun'ichiro Tanizaki. Fûten Rojin nikki is wonderfully creative and witty, a universal tragicomedy on the fragility of human existence. Highly Recommended especially for fans of Ayako Wakao , another exceptional performance, giving an enchanting, aloof, surprisingly dark satirical performance...