Tonight the Cinematheque will present two of Ozu’s early silent melodramas. Ozu, whose career as director began in 1927, explored a variety of genres before arriving at the meditative refinement he is so noted for. His films of the early 30’s are remarkable because they serve as a bridge between his youthful fascination/emulation of Hollywood cinema, and his emerging personal style. The films of this period lay the thematic foundation for his mature work: a concern for human conflicts as reflected in Japanese family life. Woman of Tokyo (1933, 47 min.) depicts a brother/sister relationship and the sacrifices they commit on behalf of each other. In a A Story of Floating Weeds (1934, 89 min.) “Ozu turned this slightly melodramatic story into a picture of great atmosphere and intensity of character, one in which story, actors, and setting, all combined to create a whole world; the first of those eight-reel universes in which everything takes on a consistency somewhat greater than life.” (Donald Richie) Total running time: 136 minutes.

pictured: Woman of Tokyo (1933) by Yasujiro Ozu