Two Films by Yasujir Ozu (Region B) w/SLIP

Two newly remastered films by the Japanese master Yasujir Ozu

From his early silent films to his final features in the 1960s,Yasujir Ozuperfected a style that stripped away unnecessary plot mechanics and camera movement. In doing so, he produced a cinema whose surface simplicity belies character studies of depth, warmth and on occasion, humour. This release features two newly restored films, presented on Blu-ray including a longer and previously unreleased version ofThere Was a Father.

I Was Born, But(1932, 91 mins): as brothers Ryoichi and Keiji struggle to outwit the local bully and scale the pecking order in their new neighbourhood they find out that injustice does not end with school. Ozu’s silent masterpiece prefigures themes from his later, colour classicGood Morning, but with a darker edge.

There Was a Father(1942, 93 mins): Shuhei Horikawa sacrifices his teaching career after an unfortunate accident but refuses to sacrifice the education of his only son.

Extras

• Newly restored and presented in High Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentaries on both films by writer and film critic Adrian Martin
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with an essay onI Was Born, Butby silent film expert Bryony Dixon, writing onThere Was a Fatherby Tony Rayns, and notes on his score forI Was Born, Butby composer Ed Hughes