The Ozu Collection
THREE MELODRAMAS (2-DISC SET)
Films by Yasujiro Ozu
Melodrama is a word rarely associated with Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu, whose beautifully constructed films capture the poetry of everyday life. Spanning his career, this collection demonstrates the director’s ability to apply his exquisite style to darker themes.
Disc one
WOMAN OF TOKYO
This silent drama sees Ozu experimenting with the cutaways that would become so associated with his later style. Chikako (Yoshiko Okada) works hard to pay her brother Ryoichi’s (Ureo Egawa) college fees, but disaster looms when he learns the true nature of her work.
EARLY SPRING
Made after Tokyo Story (1953), Early Spring focuses on the problems of young salaried workers. Shoji (Rye Ikebe) and his wife Masako (Chikage Awashima), struggle with a family tragedy. When Shoji’s interest turns to the office flirt, the couple’s fragile peace is threatened.
Japan | 1933 + 1956 | black & white | Japanese intertitles and audio with English subtitles | DVD9 | 45 minutes + 139 minutes | Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps) | Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 | Region 2 DVD
Disc two
TOKYO TWILIGHT
Ozu’s last black and white film is a masterpiece of atmospheric chiaroscuro. Abandoned by their mother, sisters Akiko (Ineko Arima) and Takako (Setsuko Hara) live with their father Shukichi (Chishu Ryu). When Akiko falls into desperate trouble, she turns away from her family.
Japan | 1957 | black & white | Japanese with English subtitles | DVD9 | 135 minutes | Dolby Digital mono audio (224kbps) | Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 | Region 2 DVD
Special features
Optional score for Woman of Tokyo by Ed Hughes commissioned exclusively for the BFI Illustrated booklet with new essays from Tony Rayns, Anthony Nield, Nick Wrigley, and Daisuke Miyao
