About this episode
Felicia is joined by Peter Merriman to discuss Yasujirō Ozu’s tale about aging parents and their relationships with their older children, in Tokyo Story (1953). We chat about why Japan original didn’t think they could market this film in North America, and how it eventually became one of the most universal film texts that audiences continue to relate to. This mark’s the end of the Ozu series, it was an honour and beautiful experience revisiting and watching some of his films for the first time in preparation. There is an Ozu film out there for everyone, and I hope you find it and it changes your life. Send us your thoughts on the episode - do you prefer Ozu’s colour or black and white film era? Let us know by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Sources: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/301-tokyo-story-compassionate-detachment https://www.criterion.com/current/top-10-lists/371-rashaad-ernesto-green-s-top-10 https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/31/tokyo-story-review-yasujiro-ozu https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/ozu/ https://www.enotes.com/topics/yasujiro-ozu/critical-essays/lindsay-anderson https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520396722/directed-by-yasujiro-ozu https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520296817/transcendental-style-in-film Previous episode with Peter Merriman: The American Friend (D.O.P. Robby Müller 1977) OUTRO SONG: Tokyo Story Theme by Takanobu Saitô FILMS MENTIONED: The American Friend (Wim Wenders 1977) The Holdovers (Alexander Payne 2023) Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet 2023) Barbie (Greta Gerwig 2023) Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan 2023) Tenet (Christopher Nolan 2020) Dune: Part 2 (Denis Villeneuve 2024) Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton (Guy Maddin 2015) Justice League (Zack Snyder 2021) Dawn of the Dead (Zack Snyder 2004) An Autumn Aftenoon (Yasujirō Ozu 1964) Late Spring (Yasujirō Ozu 1949) Make Way For Tomorrow (Leo McCarey 1937) Tokyo Twilight (Yasujirō Ozu 1957) I Was Born, But… (Yasujirō Ozu 1932) Tokyo-ga (Wim Wenders 1985) Sans Soleil (Chris Marker 1983) A Man Escaped (Robert Bresson 1957) Mommie Dearest (Frank Perry 1981) Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade 2016) Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders 1984) Wild Strawberries (Ingmar Bergman 1957) Listen to full episode :