Tokyo Story

by Alastair Phillips

This BFI Film Classics study of Tokyo Monogatari / Tokyo Story (1953) reveals the making, meaning and legacy behind Ozu Yasujiro’s masterpiece.

Ozu's moving family drama is universally acknowledged as one of the most significant Japanese films ever made. In its complex portrait of human motivation and lively sense of social space, it offers a profound and poignant insight into the generational shifts of post-war Japan.

Alastair Phillips provides an in-depth analysis of the film and its key locations - the city of Tokyo, the town of Onomichi and the coastal resort of Atami - with a discussion of its representation of Japanese society at a time of great cultural change. Drawing upon Japanese and English language sources, he situates the film within various contemporary critical and industrial contexts and examines the multiple international dimensions of Tokyo Story 's long after-life to understand its enormous contribution to global film culture.

Genres: Film, Japan, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published November 3, 2022

Reviews

[Nathan Marone]

Tokyo Story has long, and rightly, been held up as one of the masterpieces of world cinema. I've long found it to be a little bit elusive, because critics and historians like Paul Schrader have positioned it as a model of transcendence. But at its heart Tokyo Story is a richly textured family drama that simply meditates on the passage of time, the changing circumstances of people, and the ever-in flux nature of society itself. Alastair Phillips' treatment of Tokyo Story for the BFI Film Classics series is a lovely companion to the film itself.

There is a history of the film's production and reception, both in Japan and the world. At the heart of the book is an accessible analysis of the film itself, paying close attention to Ozu's blocking, editing patterns, and the amazing performances given by Setsuko Hara, Haruko Sugimara, and Chishu Ryu. This book gave me a greater appreciation for the movie.

That said, I'll always prefer Late Spring and would love it if Phillips would write a BFI treatment for that movie! If you're reading this, Phillips, you know what to do!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of books in this series, and this was one of the best so far. If I were rating it only against other books in the series, I would give it a 5. It is very insightful regarding the director’s intentions and feelings about the film, and about the techniques he used to fulfill those intentions. It very much enhanced my understanding and appreciation of this wonderful film.

[Tito Quiling, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! I love how the production notes are intertwined with national and film histories, and tying in anecdotes and thoughts by Ozu himself and those close to him. The visuals (photos, film stills, posters, and other media coverage) complement the analyses about the city, the house, and societal changes in postwar Japan.

[Tianpu Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

本书的绝大部分是本片的深度，甚至有些学术的拉片。加上电影在日本电影和世界电影中的地位。

[Chris Orange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was nice to read some finer details of the movie after watching it.

[Cameron K]

Paperback from BFI
I chose to read this after my grandmother passed away. The story of and around Yasujiro Ozu's film was comforting.