Comments on: [苦笑] The bitter Kodak smile in Ozu Yasujiro’s films http://www.iwanihana.info/2009/04/26/the-bitter-kodak-smile-in-ozu-yasujiros-films/ Where beauty moves and wit delights Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:19:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Wabisabi http://www.iwanihana.info/2009/04/26/the-bitter-kodak-smile-in-ozu-yasujiros-films/comment-page-1/#comment-209 Wabisabi Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:31:40 +0000 http://www.iwanihana.info/?p=71#comment-209 DeepBlue: That's a dead-on observation about the films of Ozu. I think the quote really fits in with Ozu's 1950 film "The Munetaka Sisters" in particular. In the story, a woman was abused by her husband who later dropped dead, and a very nice man whom she used to date before her marriage and who had never forgotten her offered her marriage. She refused and gave a rather abstract explanation for her refusal (I will leave that up to you to explore). Strange to say, there is something dignified about her reservation to not jump at immediate happiness. It is probably just the sort of culture of reservation and restraint that is very different from the "hook-up" cultures we now seem to have. "The Munetaka Sisters" is no chick flick, but you will seldom see the inner strength of women more celebrated in other films. I really like Ozu. I really do. There is nothing that makes me happier than a quiet weekend at home drinking green tea and watching his films. DeepBlue:

That’s a dead-on observation about the films of Ozu. I think the quote really fits in with Ozu’s 1950 film “The Munetaka Sisters” in particular. In the story, a woman was abused by her husband who later dropped dead, and a very nice man whom she used to date before her marriage and who had never forgotten her offered her marriage. She refused and gave a rather abstract explanation for her refusal (I will leave that up to you to explore). Strange to say, there is something dignified about her reservation to not jump at immediate happiness. It is probably just the sort of culture of reservation and restraint that is very different from the “hook-up” cultures we now seem to have. “The Munetaka Sisters” is no chick flick, but you will seldom see the inner strength of women more celebrated in other films.

I really like Ozu. I really do. There is nothing that makes me happier than a quiet weekend at home drinking green tea and watching his films.

]]> By: DeepBlue http://www.iwanihana.info/2009/04/26/the-bitter-kodak-smile-in-ozu-yasujiros-films/comment-page-1/#comment-185 DeepBlue Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:16:51 +0000 http://www.iwanihana.info/?p=71#comment-185 I think there is something that is inherently different about Japanese culture, at least from previous generations. In the West, it tends to fall towards the ideals of pursuing utter happiness. While in Japanese culture, there is solemn acceptance that sadness is a part of your life. I think that is why people from Western culture are perhaps perplexed, as well as fascinated by this aspect in culture which they may find mysterious. I remember, Film Critic, Roger Ebert, who himself is a fan of Ozu Yasujiro, while reviewing a Japanese film, once saying he couldn't quite understand why the Japanese have a culture of reservation even if it meant the loss of their own happiness. I think there is something that is inherently different about Japanese culture, at least from previous generations. In the West, it tends to fall towards the ideals of pursuing utter happiness. While in Japanese culture, there is solemn acceptance that sadness is a part of your life. I think that is why people from Western culture are perhaps perplexed, as well as fascinated by this aspect in culture which they may find mysterious. I remember, Film Critic, Roger Ebert, who himself is a fan of Ozu Yasujiro, while reviewing a Japanese film, once saying he couldn’t quite understand why the Japanese have a culture of reservation even if it meant the loss of their own happiness.

]]> By: Wabisabi http://www.iwanihana.info/2009/04/26/the-bitter-kodak-smile-in-ozu-yasujiros-films/comment-page-1/#comment-149 Wabisabi Fri, 29 May 2009 13:43:35 +0000 http://www.iwanihana.info/?p=71#comment-149 Er... I think I should qualify the part "it accepts that life is 80%-90% suffering" by adding that (as far as I could make out) there is no mention of what the remaining 10%-20% is or may be in that line of thinking. What that remaining 10-20% is or may be is left unsaid and no guarantee of happiness whatsoever is made. Er… I think I should qualify the part “it accepts that life is 80%-90% suffering” by adding that (as far as I could make out) there is no mention of what the remaining 10%-20% is or may be in that line of thinking. What that remaining 10-20% is or may be is left unsaid and no guarantee of happiness whatsoever is made.

]]> By: ayame http://www.iwanihana.info/2009/04/26/the-bitter-kodak-smile-in-ozu-yasujiros-films/comment-page-1/#comment-96 ayame Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:14:49 +0000 http://www.iwanihana.info/?p=71#comment-96 I know, it's double post but I just finished a rewatch of 5cm per second. In the end scene tohno sees that Akari didn't wait to see him back and so he turns, smiles and goes on. Is it this kind of smile you mean? I know, it’s double post but I just finished a rewatch of 5cm per second. In the end scene tohno sees that Akari didn’t wait to see him back and so he turns, smiles and goes on. Is it this kind of smile you mean?

]]> By: ayame http://www.iwanihana.info/2009/04/26/the-bitter-kodak-smile-in-ozu-yasujiros-films/comment-page-1/#comment-85 ayame Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:13:01 +0000 http://www.iwanihana.info/?p=71#comment-85 that last quote was really nice. it's referring to what is style and somehow eternal. I haven't watched only but very few asian films, but I can understand your fascination about their spirit. They are down to earth and they value sadness as much as happiness, because without sadness you can't feel really happy when something joyous happens. Think from what west people and from what east people are fascinated by. The first value a lot jewels and cars -shiny and 'seem-to-be-eternal' things) and the latters the beauty of nature, hence something fragile and ephemeral (at least until recently before money corrupted the ideals of the masses)... that last quote was really nice. it’s referring to what is style and somehow eternal. I haven’t watched only but very few asian films, but I can understand your fascination about their spirit. They are down to earth and they value sadness as much as happiness, because without sadness you can’t feel really happy when something joyous happens. Think from what west people and from what east people are fascinated by. The first value a lot jewels and cars -shiny and ‘seem-to-be-eternal’ things) and the latters the beauty of nature, hence something fragile and ephemeral (at least until recently before money corrupted the ideals of the masses)…

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