Yasujiro Ozu
Yasujiro OzuBy Prof.Wu
One of greatest Japanese directors
Also a screen writer
Biography 1. Family Life Experience:Born 1903, Fukagawa ,
TokyoLater moved to Matzuzaka , Mie Remained bachelor, simple
family life with mother Paradox : Family subjects major topic in
his films. Examples : conflicts between generations, growing teens
complex, and marriage dilemma for females being the sole child in
familyServed in military, including in Shanghai and Singapore
2. Education:Meiji nursery school Primary schoolEntered now
Ujiyamada High School (Mie Prefecture) in 1916 (age 13) and became
fascinated by films, especially Western movies in this period
Important Turning point of his life
3.Influences :Experiencing Western films (Mostly American, some
Swedish) Modern filmmaking techniques, however style not much
influencedMinimalism: influenced by Japanese plain daily life,
shomingeki() Detailed depictions, large portion of dialogues
included, vague story lines, ambiguity (=slightness) as in Japanese
aesthetics, Japanese flavor, creative style of plotting,
positioning (tatami shot), static styleRelatively unique. Stories
mostly originated from his own life experiences, wartime
storiesAppreciated and has a great impact on modern Western
directors
Collaborators :Kogo Noda ( ): Japanese screenwriter.
Collaborated with Ozu in many films including Sword of Penitence ,
Late Spring and An Autumn Afternoon 2. Setzuko Hara ( ): Famous
Japanese actress, known for elegance and well developed acting
skills. Highly complimented by Ozu3. Chisyu Ryu ( ) : Famous
Japanese actor, participated in as many as 32 of Ozus films
including Late Spring, Early Summer, Tokyo Story, and An Autumn
Afternoon
6
4. Accomplishments:Directed 53 films in total
Year Events1923 (20)Entered Shochiku Film Company ()1927
(24)Directed 1st film, Sword of Penitence () 1933 (30)Directed
Silent Film Passing Fancy () 1941 (38)Directed Brothers and Sisters
of the Todas () 1942 (39)Directed There Was a Father (1947 (44)His
1st film directed after WWll : The Record of a Tenement Gentleman
()
YearAccomplishments1949 (46)Directed Late Spring (), his 1st
film collaborating famous actress Setsuko Hara ( )1951 (48)Directed
Early Summer ()1952 (49)Directed The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice
(), recreated from originally banned 1939 script1953 (50)Directed
Tokyo Story (), cooperating with screenwriter Kogo Noda ( )1958
(55)Directed Equinox Flower ()1962 (59)Directed An Autumn Afternoon
(, "The Taste of Mackerel Pike"), his final and culminating
work.Starring Keiji Sada and Chishu Ryu , famous actors.
5. Reputation:Not well-known until release of his last film An
Autumn Afternoon Several film censored previously including The
Flavor of Green Tea over Rice According to Michael Atkinson, Home
With Ozu, described as least sensational filmmaker of all time, but
still evoking new scholarship, igniting theatrical retrospectives,
most Japanese of that nations great directorsOne of very few cinema
giants Jean Renoir, French film director, author
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