Yasujirō Ozu is an enigmatic filmmaker who values mood and pacing. So why did he cut to this vase? Ozu is one of those directors whose work inspired everyone who came after him. He was working at the same time as Welles and Curtiz, making movies that were just as important—movies about life, death, family, and marriage that were serene, melodic celebrations of nature and humanity that unfold slowly—a cinematic style that helped turn Ozu into a legend in film. His film Late Spring falls perfectly into all of these topics. It's about a woman reluctantly choosing to get married because she thinks it's what her father wants. Her father pushes for his daughter’s marriage because he thinks that’s what she wants. Late Spring has been referred to as the director's "most perfect" work, and as "the definitive film of Ozu's master filmmaking approach and language." But one key scene has always baffled viewers. Toward the end of the film, as the daughter accepts her life will be changing, the camera cuts to a vase. This is one of the most powerful and enigmatic shots in Ozu’s entire filmography. Read More...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Wednesday, 11 November, 2020