# The Yasujiro Ozu Appreciation Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632 "2011-10-24T15:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/1 "2011-10-24T15:23:16Z")
[Yasujiro Ozo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasujir%C5%8D_Ozu). The wife and I are already big Roger Ebert fans, but if nothing else we’ll always be grateful to him for turning us on to this great Japanese filmmaker. His wonderful [Tokyo Story](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20031109%2FREVIEWS08%2F311090301%2F1023) (1953) will probably always be on our personal top 10 list. We recently watched his final movie, _An Autumn Afternoon_ (1962), made the year before he died and one of I believe only six color features. I remember in 1994, the [Goethe Institute in Bangkok](http://www.goethe.de/ins/th/ban/enindex.htm) held a Yasujiro Ozu/Wim Wenders film festival. The German filmmaker Wenders claims a large influence from Ozu, and for two weeks the institute would screen one Ozu film and one Wenders film back-to-back every evening, more on weekends. Personally, I could not see much similarity, although one of the Wenders films screened was _Tokyo-Ga_ (1985), a documentary in which Wenders searches for the Tokyo that Ozu portrayed. And the whole thing was free. One Saturday halfway through the event, a daylong seminar was held. The Goethe Institute flew in the American film critic Donald Richie, who is an expert on Japanese film and based in Tokyo, to speak on Ozu. They also flew in a Wenders expert from Germany, but I regret that I cannot remember his name. They lectured on the two, and more films were shown. Again, this was all free. And more: When it came time to break for lunch during this daylong seminar, there was a surprise announcement that everyone present was invited to a lunch buffet at a nearby hotel, and even this was free, the institute picking up the tab. This was just fantastic. We really love Ozu and his work. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/2 "2011-10-24T15:25:07Z")
I love Tokyo Story, and have always intended to watch more of his films but never got around to it. Any others that you particularly recommend? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/3 "2011-10-24T15:33:49Z")
I honestly can’t think of any I would _not_ recommend. But we also recently watched what I believe was his first talkie, _The Only Son_ (1936) and _There Was a Father_ (1942). Those might be a good place to start. Any of his “season” film – _Late Spring_, _Early Summer_ etc – are great. I remember especially liking _Flavor of Green Tea over Rice_ (1952). And almost all of Ozu’s films – 52 out of 54 – of course has his favorite actor, Chishu Ryu (the father in _Tokyo Story_), sometimes in a small role, often as the lead. He appeared in Wenders’ _Tokyo-Ga_ documentary too, discussing his relationship with the director. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/4 "2011-10-24T21:35:30Z")
After I stumbled on _Tokyo Story_ on IFC I was hooked on Ozu. Since then I’ve watched all of his films that were made after _Tokyo Story_. The two pre-Tokyo-Story movies that I particularly like are _Late Spring_ and _Early Summer_, which are the other two parts of the “Noriko” trilogy starring that wonderful actress Setsuko Hara (who’s still alive at 91!). For an Ozu movie with a different flavor (not as thought provoking and kind of fun), I’d recommend _Good Morning_. Ozu’s distinctive directing style is something I appreciate more and more when I rewatch his movies. However, I will say that his films are not for everyone. The dialog can be sparse and the themes may not resonate for a Western audience. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/5 "2011-10-24T22:32:32Z")
I’m a fan (_Tokyo Story_’s my favorite). Criterion Collection’s got about 17 of his films on DVD (some as part of sets), and I’ve got them all except the silent films. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/6 "2011-10-24T23:03:51Z")
I love Ozu. He’s one of my favorite directors. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-yasujiro-ozu-appreciation-thread/600632/7 "2011-10-25T02:42:27Z")
_Tokyo Story_ is to Ozu as _Annie Hall_ is to Woody Allen or the novel _Jitterbug Perfume_ is to Tom Robbins. It tends to be everyone’s favorite.