Guia Crítico de Diretores Japoneses#1: Sadatsugu Matsuda

 

MATSUDA Sadatsugu

(17 de novembro de 1906 - 20 de janeiro de 2003)

松田定次

Matsuda é incluído aqui como um dos exemplo representativos de profícuos artesãos, embora anônimos, trabalhando nos jidai-geki, entre os anos 20 e os 60. Filho ilegítimo do "pai do cinema japonês" Shozo Makino, realizou sua estreia, Poor Daikuro (Kawaisona Daikuro, 1928), na Makino Produções, pouco antes da morte do pioneiro. Matsuda posteriormente trabalhou na Makino Sonora (companhia fundada por seu meio-irmão, Masahiro Makino), Nikkatsu e Daiei; dentre os mais apreciados de seus filmes do pré-guerra se encontram Young Toyama Kinsan (Hana no Haru Toyamazakura, 1936) e Drawing the Sword (Katana o Nuite, 1937). No pós-guerra trabalhou principalmente na Toei, onde seus filmes apresentavam uma mescla de violência, humor e páthos típico do estúdio. Ao longo de sua carreira, especializou-se em filmes de época, frequentemente baseados em famosas histórias e lendas, e estrelados por certos luminares do gênero como Utaemon Ichikawa e Chiezo Kataoka; o último também aparece na sequencia dos populares filmes de detetive de Matsuda, baseado nos romances de Seishi Yokomizo. De seus jidai-geki na Toei, Chonicle of Ako (Ako Roshi, 1961) foi uma das mais humanas revisitações à história dos 47 ronin, com uma ênfase mais forte do que esperada nas vidas pessoais e sentimentos dos participantes.

Matsuda obteve uma nota de rodapé na história do cinema, como o diretor de Samurai Bride Hunter (Ho-Jo no Hanayome, 1957), o primeiro filme japonês em cores (*) e tela larga. Essa leve comédia de época foi, como o primeiro filme hollywoodiano em Cinemascope, The Robe (O Manto Sagrado, 1953, Henry Koster), mais chamativa por seu status pioneiro que por qualquer mérito intrínseco, mas Matsuda angariou alguma apreciação desde então, por seu uso do enquadramento em tela larga. No entanto, à parte sua mudança de formato, seus jidai-geki na Toei dos anos 50 e 60 apresentavam escassa evolução das técnicas da época silenciosa. De fato, as ocasionais panorâmicas zíper em Road of Chivalry (Ninkyo Nakasendo, 1960) evocam as do estilo pré-sonoro de Daisuke Ito, de cujo modo frenético Matsuda pode ser considerado um imitador de segunda linha. De toda forma, seus filmes demonstram as virtudes de um treinamento clássico: economia, ritmo e coreografia graciosa da ação. Esses ativos testemunham da força do sistema de estúdio japonês e a vitalidade de sua abordagem clássica, vitalidade demonstrada tanto pela proficuidade de seus talentos menores quanto pelo gênio de seus mestres.

1928 - Kawaisona Daikuro/Poor Daikuro

1929 - Muriyari Sanzengoku/Stolen Daikuro

1930 - Oikora Koshinkyoku/Hey, March!

Gakusei Sandaki: Tempo Jidai/Chornicle of Three Generations of Students: Tenpo Era

Goronin Yokocho/Alley of Masterlass Samurai

1931 Aiaigasa Sanryo Samurai/Samurai with 3 Ryo and a Shared Umbrella

Tabimakura Matsudaira Choshichiro/The Travels of Choshichiro Matsudaira

Bushu no Soryu/Twin Dragons of Musashi Province

1932 - Ninkyō Daimyō Gorōzō/The Chivalrus Daimyo Gorozo

Idahachi Jima/Stripes of Idahachi

Meian Sansesō/Light and Dark: Three Aspects of Society

1933 - Somewake Furiko/The Parti-Colored Pendulum

Sakebu Raichō/The Crying Snow Grouse

Hanji Tsukiyo no Uta/Hanji's Song of a Midnight Night

Hare Hare Samon/Clear, Clear Samon

1934 Fujisō Gyōjōki/Conduct Report of Fujizo (partes 1 e 2)

Tenpō Suikoden/Tempo-Era Water Margin

Onnagokoro Sōjōki/A Woman's Heart: Record of Two Passions

Kikyoray Tōge/The Pass Home

1935 Aizō Ichidai/A Life of Love and Hate

Jigoku Bayashi/Festival Music of Hell

Fūryū Yakkohige/The Elegant Moustache

1936 Hana no haru Tōyamazakura / Young Toyama Kinsan (lit. Toyama Kinsan of the Spring Flowers) (co-director)

Tabi no Baka Yasu / The Travels of Yasu the Stupid

Matsudaira gaiki / Story of Matsudaira

Yatarōgasa (Zenpen; Kōhen) / Yataro’s Sedge Hat (Parts 1 and 2)

Edo sodachi omatsuri Sashichi / Sashichi of the Festivals, Born and Bred in Edo

Hadaka no haritsuke / The Naked Crucifixion

Kabuki kenpō / Kabuki Fencing

1937 Katana o nuite / Drawing the Sword

Sengoku jidai / Era of Warring States

1938 Kurama Tengu: Kakubei shishi no maki / Kurama Tengu: Kakubei the Lion (codirector)

Jirochō ikka / The Family of Jirocho

Dokyō senryō / Courage and a Thousand Ryo

Kurama Tengu: Ryūjōkohaku no maki / Kurama Tengu: Fierce Fighting

Arajishi / Violent Lion

1939 Chōhachirō emaki: Tsuki no maki / The Scroll of Chohachiro: Moon Reel

Chōhachirō emaki: Hana no maki / The Scroll of Chohachiro: Flower Reel

Matatabi no uta / Wanderers’ Song

Kurama Tengu: Edo nikki / Kurama Tengu: Edo Diary

Kurama Tengu: Kyōfu hen / Kurama Tengu: Terror Chapter

Mumei yūmei (Zenpen; Kōhen) / Obscure and Famous (Parts 1 and 2)

Junjō ichidai otoko / The Life of an Innocent Man

1940 Namida no torinawa / Snare of Tears

Akō no hitozuma / A Wife of Ako

Rōgoku no ōkami / Prison Wolf

Gokoku no oni / The Devil Who Defends the Country

Hokkai ni sakebu bushi / The Warrior Who Calls toward the North Sea

1941 Sangaku bushi / The Warrior in the Mountains

Sugata naki fukushū / Secret Revenge

1943 Chingisu Kan / Genghis Khan (co-director)

1944 Takadanobaba (Zenpen; Kōhen) / Takadanobaba (Parts 1 and 2)

Kappa taishō / General Kappa

1946 Meiji no kyōdai / Brothers of the Meiji Era

Kunisada Chūji / Chuji Kunisada

1947 Yami o hashiru basha / Chariot in the Dark

Jūsan no me / Thirteen Eyes

Yoimatsuri happyakuyachō / Edo on the Eve of a Festival

Sanbon yubi no otoko / The Man with Three Fingers

1948 Kiso no tengu / A Goblin in Kiso

Nijūichi no shimon / Twenty-One Fingerprints

Nippon G-men / G-Men of Japan

Kurokumo kaidō / Road of Black Clouds

Sanjūsan no ashiato / 33 Footprints

1949 Byakko / White Tiger

Gokumontō / Island of Horrors

Gokumontō: Kaimei hen / Island of Horrors: The Solution

1950 Nippon G-men: Dainiwa: Nansenzaki no kettō / G-Men of Japan: Part 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape

Shishi no wana / The Lion Trap

Yami ni hikaru me / Eyes Alight in Darkness

Hatamoto taikutsu otoko torimonobikae: Shichinin no hanayome / Notes on a Boring Retainer: Seven Brides

Hatamoto taikutsu otoko torimonobikae: Dokusatsu maden / Notes on a Boring Retainer: Mysterious Mansion of Poisoning

1951 Tengu no Yasu / Yasu the Goblin

Yatsuhakamura / Village of Eight Gravestones

Edo koi sugoroku / Love and Games in Edo

1952 Yūmingai no yashū / Night Attack on the Street of Idlers

Kojiki taishō / The Beggar General

Shura hakkō / The Pains of Hell

Tange Sazen / Sazen Tange

Ryūzoku kuromatai: Akatsuki no kyūshū / Wandering Thieves: Black Horse Gang: Sudden Attack at Dawn

Ryūzoku kuromatai: Gekka no taiketsu / Wandering Thieves: Black Horse Gang: Duel under the Moon

1953 Asayake Fuji (Zenpen; Kōhen) / Mount Fuji in Dawn Light (Parts 1 and 2)

Shinsho Taikōki: Kyūshū Okehazama / Chronicle of Hideyoshi, New Book: Sudden Attack on Okehazama

Yama o mamoru kyōdai / Brothers Protecting the Mountains

Onibuse kaidō / Street of the Devils’ Ambush

Chūji tabi nikki: Kenka daiko / Chuji’s Travel Diary: Battle Drum

1954 Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: Dokuro yashiki / The Boring Retainer: Skull Mansion

Denshichi torimonochō: Hitohada senryō / Notebooks of Denshichi: Skin and 1,000 Ryo

Akuma ga kitarite fue o fuku / The Devil Comes Whistling

Kagebōshi ichiban tegara: Yōi Chūshingura / The Shadow’s Greatest Exploit: Uncanny Chushingura

Yaoya Oshichi: Furisode tsukiyo / Oshichi of the Grocer’s: Long Sleeves on a Moonlit 

NightZangetsu ikkiuchi / One-to-One Fight under the Morning Moon

1955 Tarao Bannai shirīzu: Hayabusa no maō / Bannai Tarao Series: The Demon King of Falcons

Fūun shōgidani / Wind and Clouds in the Valley of Shogi

Seiryūgai no ōkami / The Wolf of Blue Dragon Street

Yatarōgasa / Yataro’s Sedge Hat

Tarao Bannai shirīzu: Daihachiwa: Fukushū no shichikamen / Bannai Tarao Series: Part 8: Seven Masks of Revenge

1956 Tarao Bannai shirīzu: Senritsu no shichikamen / Bannai Tarao Series: Seven Horrible Masks

Akō rōshi / Warriors of Ako

Kengō nitōryū / The Master Two-Handed Swordsman

Fushitaka / Father and Chick Hawk

Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: Nazo no yūreisen / The Boring Retainer: The Mysterious Ghost Ship

Dokuro zeni / Skull Money

Yōja no maden / The Mysterious Snake Mansion

1957 Ninkyō Shimizu minato / Port of Honor (lit. Chivalry at Shimizu Harbor)

Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: Nazo no gurentō / The Boring Retainer: The Mysterious Red Lotus Flower

Hō-jō no hanayome / Samurai Bride Hunter / The Lord Takes a Bride / The Bride of Phoenix Castle (lit.)

Hayatozoku no hanran / Rebellion (lit. Rebellion of the Hayato Clan)

Yūreisen: Dotō hen / Ghost Ship: Angry Waves Chapter

Yūreisen: Kōhen / Ghost Ship: Part 2

Koikaze dōchū / Breeze of Love

1958 Ninkyō Tōkaidō / A Chivalrous Spirit / Fighters on Passage (lit. Chivalry on the Tokaido)

Tarao Bannai: Jūsan no maō / Bannai Tarao: The Thirteenth King of Hell / Man of Thirteen Eyes

Tange Sazen / Sazen Tange / Secret of the Bronze Dragon

Ōedo shichinin shū / Seven from Edo (co-director)Yatsu no kenjū wa jigoku da ze / The Guy’s Gun Is Hell

Hatamoto taikutsu otoko / The Boring Retainer

Onmitsu shichishōki / The Abandoned Swords / Destiny of Credential Agent (lit. Record of the Seven Lives of a Secret Messenger)

1959 Tange Sazen: Dotō hen / Sazen Tange: Angry Waves Chapter / Secret of the Golden Spell

Chūshingura / The Great Avengers / The Loyal 47 Ronin

Shingo jūban shōbu / Shingo’s Original Challenge / Ten Duels of Young Shingo (lit.)

Fūryū shisha: Tenka musō no ken / The Elegant Messenger: The Shogun’s Unrivaled Sword

Mito Kōmon: Tenka no fukushōgun / Komon Mito: The Shogun’s Adjutant

Tenka no Igagoe: Akatsuki no kessen / The Shogun Crosses Iga: Duel at Dawn

1960 Ninkyō Nakasendō / Road of Chivalry / Gamblers’ Code on the Nakasendo (lit.)

Tange Sazen: Yōtō nuretsubame / Sazen Tange: The Mysterious Sword (lit. Sazen Tange:The Mysterious Sword and the Damp Swallow)

Shingo jūban shōbu: Daisanbu / Shingo’s Original Challenge: Part 3

Shingo jūban shōbu: Kanketsu hen / Shingo’s Original Challenge: Conclusion

Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: Nazo no ansatsutai / The Boring Retainer: The Mysterious Group of Assassins

Mito Kōmon / Mito Komon

Shōsuke buyūden: Aizu Bandai-san / Chronicle of Shosuke’s Bravery: Mount Bandai in Aizu

1961 Shingo nijūban shōbu / Shingo’s Challenge / Twenty Duels of Shingo (lit.)

Akō rōshi / Chronicle of Ako / Warriors of Ako / The 47 Ronin

Tange Sazen: Nuretsubame ittōryū / Sazen Tange: The Sword Flies Like a Swallow

Shingo nijūban shōbu: Dainibu / Shingo’s Challenge: Part 2

Ishin no kagaribi / Bonfires of the Restoration

1962 Tenka no goikenban / His Excellency’s Advisor

Minamoto Kurō Yoshitsune / Kuro Yoshitsune Minamoto

Umon torimonochō: Beni tokage / The Casebooks of Detective Umon: The Crimson Lizard

Chikemurigasa / Hat of Bloodshed

Wakasama samurai torimonochō / Notebooks of a Young Master Samurai

1963 Seizoroi Tōkaidō / Mustered on the Tokaido

Nakasendō no tsumujikaze / Whirlwind on the Nakasendo

Shingo nijūban shōbu: Kanketsu hen / Shingo’s Challenge: Conclusion

Chi to suna no kettō / Duel of Blood and Sand

1964 Hitokirigasa / Killer’s Hat

Shingo bangai shōbu / Shingo’s Extra Challenge

1965 Baraketsu shōbu / Three Young Rebels

1969 Mekura no Oichi monogatari: Makkana nagaredori / Story of Blind Oichi: Red Bird in Flight / Crimson Bat: The Blind Swordswoman

Mekura no Oichi: Jigokuhada / Trapped: The Crimson Bat (lit. Blind Oichi: Skin of Hell)

Texto: Jacoby, Alexander. A Critical Handbook of Japanese Film Directors.  Berkeley: Stone Bridge Press, 2008, pp:236-242.

(*) N. do E: Um pouco estranha essa afirmação, há não ser que se leve em conta as duas características (cores e tela larga) ao mesmo tempo, já que filmes como Shi Heike Monogatari/A Nova Saga do Clã Taira