8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
ozu's first color film, December 27, 2000
This review is from: Equinox Flower [VHS] (VHS Tape)
as with every other major cinematic advancement ozu held out against color as long as he possibly could but his use of color in "equinox flower" and later films is just as inventive and seemingly effortless as in his black and white compositions. the director's color scheme shows up surprisingly well in this solid vhs transfer from the folks at new yorker films, whose reliability in terms of picture quality for their videos is sometimes questionable. as for the film itself the plot is a variation on the usual ozu schpiel about marriage and its consequences. the focus is, as always, more on character than plot and the film is has many well-drawn characters. "equinox flower" is highly enjoyable and certainly one of ozu's less demanding films. however, in this case it's a bit more of a curse than a blessing: in the end the film feels somewhat slight and it's not nearly as profound or memorable as ozu's best work. though i wouldnt recommend that anyone go out of their way to dig it up it's most definitely worth a look.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ozu's first color film., July 25, 2001
This review is from: Equinox Flower [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Ozu's first color film is a carefully told epic about family struggles and the clash of different traditions and cultures. Being one of his trademarks, Ozu uses long shots and almost never close-ups. The rhythm of the film flows calmly and steady.
Along with Ozu's "Tokyo Story", "Equinox Flower" is one of the most precious films of world cinema and a stunning work of art that offers such great sympathy for its characters. Surely not to be missed !
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining film, April 20, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Equinox Flower [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Although Equinox Flower may not be in the same league as Ozu's Tokyo Story or Late Spring, it is still a very entertaining movie. The plot centers around the Hirayama family. The father, played by Shin Saburi, seems to enjoy saying one thing, but doing another. At a wedding reception, he praises the bride and groom for choosing to marry out of love. But in his own home, the father is busy preparing an "arranged marriage" for his elder daughter. You'll no doubt smile and shake your head at his behavior.
This movie is noteworthy because of the appearance of actress Fujiko Yamamoto who earlier gained fame as the first Miss Japan. She plays a friend of Hirayama's elder daughter. There are also a few cultural jokes in this film that Western viewers may miss. In one scene, an intrusive guest named Mrs. Sasaki heads to the bathroom at the Hirayama home. She sees an upside-down broom and turns it rightside-up. In the old Japan, an upside-down broom indicated the homeowners didn't want visitors that day.
This is probably one of Ozu's funniest films, though I wouldn't necessarily label it a comedy. The story of the father is told with a sense of compassion. Rather than condemning him, Ozu allows us to watch as the ol' man slowly comes to the realization that the world around him is changing and that maybe he needs to change as well.
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