Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Japanese Aesthetic
For many moviegoers, the films of Ozu are typically Japanese, drawing on a history of theater, printmaking, and Zen rituals that are very different from the West. Do you find an aesthetic or "feel" to Tokyo Story that is different from American or even European films? If you know anything about Japanese culture, do you see parallels between this film and other Japanese art or rituals? Do you gain a sense of mono no aware, the appreciation of the inherent sadness of life due to the transcience of beauty?
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Tokyo Story is very different from most (if not all) American and European films I have ever seen. In American film (especially more recent American film), many events occur with a quickly progressing, complex plot. The plots in American and European films tend to push the film's progression forward. However, Tokyo Story is not like this. Instead, Tokyo story has a very simple plot. Tokyo Story's plot is so simple that it is hard to actually differentiate. Basically, Tokyo Story tells about an older couple's vacation to visit their children.
ReplyDeleteBecause Tokyo Story's plot is so simple, very few climaxes occur. This causes the film to seem boring in parts. However, it is relaxing and causes the viewers to take more respect to simple events, such as the older grandson misbehaving, that would usually be glanced over in more action packed, complicated American and European films. I do not know much about Japanese culture. However, I do remember learning that the Japanese tend to live simple lives, as seen through both Tokyo Story itself, and the manner in which it is presented.
okay, so personal opinion here, but i did not find that movie relaxing. im not quite sure why, but i didn't, maybe because i was waiting for something to happen and it never did. also, i disagree with jessie about noticing the child misbehaving, i don't think it would go unnoticed in a more action packed or complicated film, i think it would add to the film, where as it seems out of place in tokyo story.
ReplyDeletethe 'feel' of the film is quite different from what we as americans are used to, but it fits with what i know about the culture. i do get a sense of the sadness in the film and in life. however, at the same time, they are always smiling. im sorry, but i if you were to watch the movie without the subtitles, or understanding the language, you would think it was a generally happy movie, not a film about the cultural differences between generations and a sad commentary on how family life is changing, not only in japan, but also in american and around the world.
also, maybe i am not understanding this, but, i don't see the sadness in transient beauty, if it were always there we would never appreciate it like we do now.