Books and videos of early Japanese films (Ozu, Mizoguchi, Naruse, Gosho, ..)
Michael Kerpan
kerpan at attglobal.net
Wed Jun 20 23:44:45 EDT 2001
On Wednesday 20 June 2001 09:04, Bradley Elfman <belfman at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I am interested in finding English subtitled, reasonably priced video
> sources of the Ozu films, and the films of Naruse, Mizoguchi, Gosho,
> Kinoshita, and Toyoda;
There is also a New Yorker video of Ozu's silent _I Was Born But_,but that's
currently all that's readily available in English by Ozu. If you read French
and can play PAL videos, a number of additional films are available (from
www.fnac.fr and www.alapage.com) -- including Tokyo Twilight, Green Tea Over
Rice, and Munakata Sisters (the last is the only Ozu "flop" I've seen yet).
There is also a Chinese subtitled VCD of _End of Summer_ if you are really
adventurous (from www.yesasia.com). Other than these, there are the Shochiku
videos (un-subtitled) (available from www.cdjapan.co.jp and
www.sasugabooks.com as special orders -- at about $50 per film) and several
silents (with Japanese narration and musical accompaniment -- from Matsuda:
www.infoasia.co.jp/subdir/matsuda/f_pages/fe.html).
There are lots of English-subtitled Mizoguchi videos floating around (try
www.facets.org), but only two Naruse ones (not even _Okaasan/Mother_ is
available currently). There are a few more Naruse films available as PAL
videos with French subtitles.
English-subtitled ilms from other "classical" Japanese directors (other than
Kurosawa) are hard (or just about impossible) to find. You might be able to
find Kon Ichikawa's _It's Not Easy Being Two_, however.
> I am also particularly interested in learning more about Setsuko Hara.
FWIW, I haven't been able to find much on Setsuko Hara, despite considerable
looking about.
> Additionally, I would like to learn more about the films of other Japanese
> directors and their work since 1960 to the present. I would like personal
> recommendations, since I do not know which books to trust when it comes to
> contemporary Japanese cinema. My interest likes, like Ozu, in character
> rather than plot and action.
If you are an Ozu fan, you should borrow or buy David Bordwell's _Ozu and the
Poetics of Cinema_.
The two Japanese directors (whose films are readily available with English
subtitles) most evocative of Ozu (in certain ways) are probably Kore-eda and
Kitano. Kitano is most known for his violent films, but has done some with
relatively little (or even no) violence -- Scene at the Sea, Kids Return and
Kikujiro. Although Kitano claims to have seen only one Ozu film (and
disliked it), he shares many stylistic traits with Ozu. Kore-eda's
_Maborosi_ and _After Life_ should be easy to find. (These are two of my
favorite recent films -- of any provenance).
Although Imamura (who was an Ozu assistant early in his career) explicitly
rejected Ozu's methods and style, one recent film _The Eel_ shows flashes of
Ozu-ism (mixed with a bit of violence and sex).
Finally, Isao Takahata (an animated film maker) has made several Ozu-esque
(to some extent) films. Only one, _Grave of the Fireflies_ is available on
video in English (warning, this is one of the saddest films ever made).
Another is available on a region 2 DVD, the Yamadas (another of my recent
favorite movies -- this one is NOT sad).
> I do not read or speak Japanese.
Neither do I -- but I suspect I will have to learn eventually, if I want to
pursue Japanese films further. ;~}
Best wishes
Michael Kerpan
PS There is a YahiooGroup (formerly an eGroup) devoted specifically to Ozu,
groups.yahoo.com/group/ozu/messages. It's been quiescent lately, but has
been quite active from time to time over the past year.
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