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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