Tokyo Story

Year: 1953

Grade: B-

Country: Japan

Director: Ozu

Review

expectations are a bitch. this film shows up on all sorts of top ten lists so once i saw that it had gotten the criterion treatment, i had to check it out. ozu uses space well…he films interiors in a style that is pretty original, especially for the time. he uses the low level “tatami mat” camera position along with a lack of camera movement, fades, dissolves or wipes to keep a very even narrative style that emphasizes observation of, rather than interaction with, the characters and action. he also has a very slow pacing and emphasis on the mundane which apparently influenced jim jarmusch. jarmusch’s films often emphasize negative space…he films that which is usually skipped over. ozu does the same thing and also does not film that which is usually filmed (like the kids picking up their parents at the train station). he also will allow exact relationships between characters go undefined for several minutes. this, according to the commentary, is to increase the audience’s investment in the film. but to me it’s just obnoxious. the star of the film is setsuko hara, whose character is beautiful, humane, and yet still realistic. chishu ryu, also, has a good performance as the male half of the elderly couple. ultimately this is a film that relies heavily on its style…i didn’t think all that much of the style since it wasn’t engaging or particularly beautiful. it’s a style that is its own, but it’s not one that i enjoyed. i recognize that the film is well done, though some of the editing (particularly when first exploring the interior of koichi’s house) is illogical, but that isn’t enough for me. i did have a certain connection with a few of the characters, but not to the same degree that ozu seemed to desire. i wish i liked this movie more because there are things to like. the performances are good, the direction is solid and the style is unique. kurosawa’s “ikiru,” which is not unlike this film, was far more successful in capturing my heart, and without my heart this film, though respected, cannot be loved.