Any other fans of the films of Yasujiro Ozu?

[Nunc Dimittis]

Just got this in the mail today from Amazon.  I was not expecting it for another two weeks.  What a treat.  Forget house cleaning and yard work this weekend.


It contains Early Spring, Tokyo Twilight, Equinox Flower, Late Autumn and The End of Summer.

I have never seen Early Spring and Equinox Flower and it has been around 15 years since I saw Tokyo Twilight.  By this time in his career the trademarks associated with his style, such as no tracking shots and the camera just two feet off the floor, were well established.  We also get to see many of the actors synonymous with Ozu:  Setsuko Hara, Chishu Ryu, Haruko Sugimura. 

Yes, some people complain that his films are too slow and are simply variations on the same theme; the conflict between the younger, post WWII generation, and the older generation leading to the dissolution of the family.  If a composer can take a theme and create many interesting variations on it, why cannot a film director do the same?

[E d o]

Count me in, although I prefer Kurosawa. I wish more Naruse's films would find their way to DVD. Criterion recently released one so maybe there is hope. A couple of years ago I caught several at a festival in NYC and was very impressed. He's really up there with Ozu, Kurosawa and Mizoguchi yet less well known. One Criterion release that I'm eagerly awaiting is the Hiroshi Teshigahara box: http://www.tiny.cc/LlgKW

[Lilas Pastia]

A great artist although I haven't seen many of his films (2 actually). Tokyo Story is a classic.

Anyone enjoys Kaneto Shindo's films?

[Nunc Dimittis]

I wish more Naruse's films would find their way to DVD. Criterion recently released one so maybe there is hope. A couple of years ago I caught several at a festival in NYC and was very impressed. He's really up there with Ozu, Kurosawa and Mizoguchi yet less well known. One Criterion release that I'm eagerly awaiting is the Hiroshi Teshigahara box: http://www.tiny.cc/LlgKW

Agreed.  I have the Criterion DVD you mention "When A Woman Ascends the Stairs".  I read somewhere that Criterion will have more Naruse.  I have not read which ones though.   Masters of Cinema/Eureka out of England released earlier this year a three DVD set of Naruse films http://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/moc/catalogue/sound-of-the-mountain/ It contains Repast, Flowing and Sound of the Mountain.  It is region 2. Thankfully I have a region free DVD player.  I also read that Masters of Cinema is considering another set of Naruse films but it will depend upon the sales of that first set.

[E d o]

Nunc, thanks so much for that link. I was not aware of Eureka. I'll have to get me a region free player and check out some of their titles. Are their transfers and extras on the same level as Criterion? The DVD region is truly an evil concept.

[Nunc Dimittis]

Nunc, thanks so much for that link. I was not aware of Eureka. I'll have to get me a region free player and check out some of their titles. Are their transfers and extras on the same level as Criterion? The DVD region is truly an evil concept.

Edo,  From the few Eureka DVD's I have, I would say the transfers are the equivalent of Criterion's.  I only have this Naruse set and one other from them; Twenty-four Eyes by Kinoshita.