Chasing Ozu

by Shinnosuke Kometani

A directors’ director, Yasujiro Ozu’s seminal work, Tokyo Story, was voted the greatest film of all time, beating 2001: A Space Odyssey and Citizen Kane, by a poll of 358 directors for Sight & Sound, the world-renowned film magazine. Interspersed with anecdotes and analyses on Ozu’s unique cinematic style and creative process, this book is a rare gem that examines Ozu’s life and person through the words that he left behind. A must read for all film aficionados and fans of Japanese culture.

Genres: Japan

231 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2021

Reviews

[Luke Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. I found the translation a little sloppy… but it was coherent and a fast read. There was a very odd paragraph where the author adds his opinions on why arranged marriages (a common theme in Ozu’s films) are a good idea. Felt icky reading that.

[Ellen Gwynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to get more backstory on this superlative film director.