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In Reply to: OK, fellas... let's try again posted by Victor Khomenko on June 12, 2005 at 07:17:37:
Sorry, Victor, but MY silence on the film comes from the fact that although I have heard of it, I have never seen it. I live in Northwest Louisiana. We only have 3 multiplexes here. No art theatres. The local colleges either don't show films or show films in an interdisciplinary program (as an instructor, I'm sure you know what this means, but allow me to give a one-sentence example: if a teacher is teaching something on Iran, the college shows films from or about Iran. If a teacher is teaching something the next semester about India, Bollywood here we come, etc.). Blockbuster and Hollywood are my two video choices. TV? Typical cable offered: HBO, Showtime, Cinemax.In other words, although I have seen a handful (and only a small handful at that) of references to the film, it is only thanks to this board that I have become aware of the film's reputation in places where they do have lots of movie theatres, university film programs, off-beat independent video stores, etc.
Can I assume that "The Toyko Story" is available on DVD? Criterion, perhaps? And, without spoilers, can you tell me what it and why you agree it is one of the great films?
Follow Ups:
..lots of extras including a documentary on Ozu. Then there's that other great set of 'Floating Weeds'. Apart from Victor's reasons, I'd like to add that it might be a refreshing experience to watch a filmmaker not bound by 'traditional' notions of axes and camera placement.
Thanks for the reminder...bells are ringing, veils lifted, etc...I have read that his use of space and time is different than filmmakers "not bound by 'traditional'notions."Looking forward to a new discovery!
Point of clarification: By 'traditional', I mean to say the standard Hollywood norms of continuity filmmaking. Since many 'foreign' filmmakers got their first exposure to film via Hollywood movies ( this is not a slight against the contributions of Russian film), and have/had their film vocabulary shaped through osmosis that way, it is interesting when we see someone 'break' these 'rules'.Re: Ozu--his not-so-strict adherence to the standard notions of axes allows him some novel camera placements ( and subsequent editing of scenes/compositions together which would not otherwise exist ) which would normally be precluded from existence should notions of axis preservation be in full effect. His use of the camera is also interesting in another way, in that it creates the sense of a continuous space in existance beyond the frame, vis a vis the more hermetic filmic space of the traditional sense--in this he hearkens back to the traditional/original proscenium arch type framing of early film, albeit with greater sophistication.
Lots to enjoy!
I already have written some on it. At the center of the film is the eternal conflict of children drifting away from their parents, becoming selfish and losing their roots.All swell... and you have seen it tackled many times before, but here is where Tokyo Story is different from many other such films - it does it all with such subtlety, half-tones and understated points that it truly becomes a rare marvel. Where an Italian director would hit you on your nose with the sheer shall we say, realism (pun, of course...), of the situation, Tokyo Story does it all without even raising voice once.
The characters are incredibly real and easy to identify with - something one can hardly do with works like Rules of the Game (which I love immensely too, but for a different reason). You will probably see part of yourself in some of them. The acting is superb - several actors not outshining each other, but rather performing in a perfect union, like a world-class chamber ensemble. Each image is worthy of framing.
But enough of that... just contact them and see for yourself - I know you will love it.
A great description! Looking forward to a film that is ranked with "Citizen Kane", "Rules of the Game", etc.Reminds me of my favorite Reiner story:
During rehearsals for "Der Meistersinger" at the Met, the first chair french horn player made a mistake. Reiner stopped the orchestra and restarted them a few bars back. A few minutes later, the same player made another mistake. Reiner stopped the orchestra again, and the orchestra held its breath awaiting one of his patented explosions. Reiner asked the musician, "What is the problem?" The french horn player replied, "But sir, I have never heard 'Die Meistersinger' before." Instead of exploding, Reiner paused, smiled, and replied, "What I would give to hear 'Meistersinger' for the first time! Okay, let's go back and take it from bar ----."
Looking forward to seeing "Tokyo Story"!
You are absolutely right, seeing great masterpiece for the first time is always a real pleasure, especially if you already have a trained eye! Fortunately for us, no matter how much you watch, there are still gems uncovered there!
Yes it is on DVD.I have one word for you: Netflix.
Obviously if I'm going to keep up with y'all I'm going to have to look into this "Netflix" thing. It really beats Blockbuster on a Saturday night, eh?
Haven't been in BB for a years. Don't miss it either.BTW, the monthly fee for Neflix went *down* this year. How often does that happen.
Yes, the Criterion DVD edition is excellent.
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