Yasujiro Ozu is considered second only to Kurosawa in the hierarchy of Japanese cinema (by Westerners, anyhow), so it has always shocked me how unavailable his films are. Most of his films do exist on VHS, and there is at least one on DVD, Ohayo, which I have considered purchasing in the past, but have not as of yet. But, for God's sake, I live in a decently large city now, and I can hardly find a single film of his.
Finally, I did manage to rent one, Early Summer. I can say right away that I did not enjoy it. I found it of interest in cultural aspects, but I was also quite unaffected by it, and, frankly, quite bored. I don't bore easily, either. The cultural aspects were valuable, in that it showed me a part of Japanese culture that I did not know very well, that is the intimate workings of family life. I have a feeling, though, that these modes of thought are outdated in Japan now. I think my main problem with the film was the script itself. I liked most of the characters, but I cannot say that I really got to know them all that well. I liked the grandparents, the uncle, and the young children the most. I found the main character somewhat uncompelling and underdeveloped.
I'm certainly not going to give up on Ozu. I know his reputation. Early Summer is not among his more famous films, anyway, and I'm sure, from reading about them, that Tokyo Story or Floating Blossoms would be much more appealing to me. I still would give this film 7/10. If you like it, may I suggest a couple of films: To Live, a Chinese film by Zhang Yimou which follows two characters from when they meet and marry to when they are aged. Also, the Apu trilogy, from Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. I particularly like the first installment, Pather Panchali, and have actually not seen the third, World of Apu. But this film reminded me a lot of those films.
Finally, I did manage to rent one, Early Summer. I can say right away that I did not enjoy it. I found it of interest in cultural aspects, but I was also quite unaffected by it, and, frankly, quite bored. I don't bore easily, either. The cultural aspects were valuable, in that it showed me a part of Japanese culture that I did not know very well, that is the intimate workings of family life. I have a feeling, though, that these modes of thought are outdated in Japan now. I think my main problem with the film was the script itself. I liked most of the characters, but I cannot say that I really got to know them all that well. I liked the grandparents, the uncle, and the young children the most. I found the main character somewhat uncompelling and underdeveloped.
I'm certainly not going to give up on Ozu. I know his reputation. Early Summer is not among his more famous films, anyway, and I'm sure, from reading about them, that Tokyo Story or Floating Blossoms would be much more appealing to me. I still would give this film 7/10. If you like it, may I suggest a couple of films: To Live, a Chinese film by Zhang Yimou which follows two characters from when they meet and marry to when they are aged. Also, the Apu trilogy, from Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. I particularly like the first installment, Pather Panchali, and have actually not seen the third, World of Apu. But this film reminded me a lot of those films.