Koi mo Wasurete (Forget Love for Now). 1937. Japan. Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu. Screenplay by Ryosuke Saito. With Michiko Kuwano, Bakudan Kozo, Shuji Sano. 35mm. In Japanese; English subtitles. 73 min.
One of Hiroshi Shimizu’s most devastating melodramas, Forget Love for Now chronicles the story of a single mother who works as a bar hostess to make ends meet. When she learns that her son is bullied by his classmates because of her line of work, she finds a ray of hope in the form of a mysterious man who has been hired by the madam of the bar. This oft-told yet contemporary tale is made original by Shimizu’s deft direction, showing sympathy for the child by taking his point of view. 35mm print from Japan Foundation, New York; courtesy Shochiku