本片是山中贞雄的遗作，也是他的“时代剧的庶民电影”的代表作之一。他在片中吸取了美国电影和法国电影的影响，并受到挚友兼老师小津安二郎的“小庶民电影 ”美学影响，将历史上江户时代的小人物形像注入现代庶民的语言、性格、行止、灵魂，成就了一部难得的社会现实主义的佳作。故事发生於十八世纪德川幕府时代，以悲凉调子诉说德川幕府时期低下层的生活，开头与结尾都是自杀场景，映照出旧时日本社会草根阶层的悲哀。另外，山中的剪辑流畅自如，视觉风格锋如日本绘画，演员表演也很自然。此片公认为山中最好的作品，也是他仅存的三部电影之一。 　　Humanity and Paper Balloons,unlike most other Japanese films of this period,is a historical film with a critical edge.Refusing to glorify samurai,the film insteaddeflates the myth around them with a gentle humanity. The film opens directly after a penurious ronin samurai has taken his own life.At his funeral his neighbors from his slum mourn his death. Here the film introduces another ronin samurai who lives in equal poverty. Having pawned his sword for food,the samurai searches for work but to no avail. The familys only income comes from the little balloon childrens toys made by the wife.Out of desperation,the samurai abets in an attempted kidnapping. After finding out,the wife kills him in his sleep and then takes her own life, closing the films narrative circle. 　　Brian Whitener, All Movie Guide.