Tora-San Collector's Set, Vol. 1

Between 1969 and 1996, Japan's most popular screen character was traveling peddler Torajirô Kuruma (Kiyoshi Atsumi), aka Tora-san, a bumbling rube with a good heart and bad judgment. Created by director-writer Yôji Yamada (best known in the United States for his introspective samurai dramas The Twilight Samurai and The Hidden Blade), Tora-san's misadventures were chronicled in what finally numbered 48 gently sentimental comedies. In this set, AnimEigo presents the stateside debut of the first four films in the series. Tora-san: Our Lovable Tramp (1969) introduces the character, whose pose of worldly wisdom is undercut by his street slang and bathroom jokes (the subtitles helpfully explain cultural references and verbal humor). Despite Tora-san's blundering through delicate social situations with the grace of a drunken water buffalo, everything turns out all right, while his outsized personality and impulsive generosity make it easy to forgive his faults. The collection is filled out by Tora-san's Cherished Mother (1969), Tora-san, His Tender Love (1970), and Tora-san's Grand Scheme (1970), each of which send the character on another quest between visits home to cheer his loving little sister and exasperate everyone else (although, despite his tendency to trip over his own words, Tora-san manages to be quite the matchmaker … for everyone but himself). DVD extras include audio commentary on Tora-san: Our Lovable Tramp by film historian Stuart Galbraith IV and program notes for each film. A charming set, this is recommended. (S. Axmaker)