Looking for a movie by Yasujiro Ozu

"Good Morning" Ohayo

English translation: Good Morning Japan 1959

Director: Yasu jiro Ozu

Starring : MasuoFujikiYoshikiKuga

Length: 97 minutes

In the history of the development of Japanese national films, Ozu Yasujiro seems to occupy a more important position than Kurosawa Akira and Mizoguchi Kenji, and only Only he can make films with a truly Japanese national style. Although "Good Morning" is not Ozu Yasujiro's most famous film, it is deeply imprinted with his personal style like his other works.

The family life of ordinary people is an eternal theme in Ozu Yasujiro's films. "Good Morning" tells the story of the lives of several families in a Japanese community. There are no ups and downs of the plot, nor fierce emotional conflicts. Everything is expressed by many carefully arranged meaningful and soothing plots. The television is the only clue that connects this story: it begins with the two sons of Keitaro Hayashi’s family clamoring to buy a television, and ends with the two children’s wishes coming true. In fact, it makes no sense for me to dwell on the plot here. What you should really pay attention to when watching this movie is how Ozu Yasujiro uses his film techniques to express family conflicts in Japanese society.

Japan is still deeply influenced by the "Zen" thought of Chinese Buddhism. This can be seen in the film's mother who often holds Buddhist beads and chants sutras. The Japanese also have high artistic achievements in calligraphy and tea ceremony, which were introduced to Japan from my country and then flourished there. The reason is that it exactly meets the psychological and aesthetic requirements of the Japanese. Whether you want to write a good piece of calligraphy or make a good pot of tea, it cannot be accomplished without a quiet and peaceful state of mind, and you can also have this quiet and peaceful experience when watching Ozu's films. In Ozu's film, everything is calm, people are very polite, they always say hello when they meet, and then talk about today's weather, the days are as ordinary as water.

Ozu also shows unique national characteristics in the composition of his films. Throughout "Good Morning", the camera position seems to be always below the person's waist, and there are basically no moving shots. The camera always observes the characters at a slight elevation angle. Regarding the reason, Japanese film critic Tadao Sato explained: "Japanese people are accustomed to sitting on straw mats with their upper bodies leaning forward. Therefore, shooting this posture at an elevated angle can make it appear stable and majestic... casually Sitting on the straw mat is the most ordinary and boring moment in Japanese life. "And most of the shots in his movies are in a still state (this is different from Hou Hsiao-hsien's long still shots, which have continuity and consistency. Rhythmic switching), the camera position at this time perfectly matches that of a listener sitting cross-legged on the ground and quietly listening to the dialogue of the characters in the play.

After watching this film, I was reminded of what Tian Zhuangzhuang said recently about his new film "Spring in a Small Town": "Those who are impetuous should not watch this movie." Yes, Ozu's. Movies require you to calm down and savor them slowly.