#635: Burying the Lead
October 20, 2011
|
Notes from the Manager
We're finally about to start filming, but we won't see any "footage" for another week (just in time for Halloween). I like slow pacing. What can I say?
Yasujiro Ozu is one of my favorite directors. He's one of Japan's most revered filmmakers, with a career spanning from 1927 to 1962. While many of his early films have been lost, I believe all many of his sound films are available in Criterion Collection DVDs or Blu-Rays, and almost all of them are beautiful, understated (“boring,” to many people) films. Unfortunately, none are available on streaming at Netflix, but they're all up on Hulu Plus.
I have a few reviews of Ozu's films up at the Deleted Scenes blog (originally published at Gapers Block, back in the day). His best-known film is Toyko Story, and that's as good a place to start as any.
As Jason says, Ozu's trademark style involved low camera angles (really, a low camera height, not low camera angles, but it's described that way all the time), an almost motionless camera, and relatively little cutting. It's a really beautifully poetic style, and I would shamelessly rip it off if I ever made a film.
Do we have any Ozu fans out there?
Affiliate Link: Shop at Amazon.com and support Multiplex
Join the Conversation
Posting Rules: Do not post comments about typos; e-mail me or use Twitter instead. No spamming, and no trolling. Inappropriate comments may be edited or deleted, and repeated or egregious offenders may be IP banned — so don't be a dick. Please.
blog comments powered by DisqusDeleted Scenes Blog
Bonus comics, drawings, and
movie trailers from Gordon
