Ozu Pretty Things

Seattlest apologizes (especially to David Bowie) for the headline; we couldn't resist.

Northwest Film Forum's Yasujiro Ozu retrospective starts today and we wiggle with excitement.

Ozu, a Japanese director whose work spans 30-odd years--from silent black-and-whites to technicolor splendor--is widely regarded as a master of the form. Seattlest loves his literally unique perspective--shooting from the level of the tatami mat. Before you get the foreign-film-subtitle-narcoleptic willies, let us tell you that Ozu's films are warm and evocative and often funny. Most focus on familial relationships--overbearing spouses, resigned parents, ill-behaved children. Universal stuff.

Seattlest's fave is Good Morning, a later film (1959) about two brothers who take on a vow of silence in order to convince their parents to buy them a TV set. It's the subplot that won us over--the boys engage in a daily fart contest. Now that's universal subject matter. Unfortunately (if taking children to a foreign film is not your idea of fun; otherwise, we suppose it's a dream come true) NWFF is showing Good Morning in a special family-friendly version with actors reading the subtitles. Eek. We say Netflix.

We'll be at as many of the rest of the films as is humanly possible--especially since so few have made it to DVD. Descriptions and ticket info here.