Monday, October 1, 2012

Monday Movie Reviews #11: Early Spring

Early Spring is one of the few Yasujiro Ozu films that feels like a bit of a miss. I'm not entirely sure why this is. If I had to guess, I would say that it's because there aren't any really sympathetic characters. At least, none to this modern, Western viewer. The story is typical Ozu in that it's an everyday tale that could be found anywhere, but this time the conflict that drives the plot is a bit different.

In Early Spring the protagonist ends up having an affair with a typist/secretary from the office in which he works. Interestingly, despite implying that they sleep together, they can't even show the two kissing on screen. They do that turn away from the camera thing so her face is obscured behind his shoulder and he's facing away. Curious things, taboos.

The movie is still a well-made one and ends about as well as one might expect. The real point of it all seems less to focus on the three characters at the center of the plot, but upon the reactions and actions of those around them in the various social contexts. Some people place great emphasis on the infidelity and others seem to consider it almost an incidental and completely inconsequential thing.

In this case, I have to remind myself that even Homer nods, and that if I'd seen a film like this made by someone like Michael Bay, I'd be floored and astounded by the quality. It's worth seeing as part of the Ozu canon, can't miss it if you're watching all his movies, but it's not one to seek out particularly if you've got his other films available as well and you just need a good movie to watch.

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