In Search of Ozu (2018)

In Search of Ozu: Directed by Daniel Raim. With Hideyuki Nagai, Kazuhiro Odashima, Hidenori Okada, Shizuo Yamanouchi. In this documentary, filmmaker Daniel Raim delves into Yasujiro Ozu’s remarkable late work, in which the master made the leap from black and white to color. In his stirring tribute to the great filmmaker, Raim examines Ozu’s life and work through archival treasures such as his diary and the red teakettle from the family drama “Equinox Flower” (1958); sits down with Ozu’s nephew and the producer of the director’s gently elegiac final film, “An Autumn Afternoon” (1962); and interweaves many scenes and images from the vibrant and humane films with which the director capped his career.

“Roger Ebert wrote these words, or something very close to this, in a piece on the great filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu. I read the piece quite a few years ago, not having experienced any of Ozuu0026#39;s films. I was surprised to read about this artist, never knowing the name let alone the works he crafted. As a somewhat young cinephile devouring movies 10-20 a week, I focused on more u0026quot;knownu0026quot; directors at the time, renting videos almost daily at my local video store. Deciding to find an Ozu film, I asked the fellow movie nerd behind the counter if they stocked any films by Ozu. They had one video, Tokyo Story, dusty and sitting alone in the Foreign Films section. I grabbed it and went straight home.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOn first watching, my initial reaction was u0026quot;This film is soooooo slow. What was Roger taking about in his article again?u0026quot; Went back and re-read Rogeru0026#39;s words. Went back and watched Tokyo Story again. Was hooked on Ozu ever since.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor those who have never seen an Ozu film, please watch this documentary. Then approach his films with an open and fully focused mind. Meditate on his films in the way one might reflect on the beauty of a Japanese garden.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYou might be touched in ways few films can touch you.”