Eclipse Series 10: SILENT OZU -- THREE FAMILY COMEDIES: OZU, Yasujiro: Passing Fancy (1933)

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OZU, Yasujiro (Japan)
Passing Fancy [1933]
Eclipse Series 10
DVD


The first of a series of Ozu films featuring the endearing single dad Kihachi (played wonderfully by Takeshi Sakamoto), Passing Fancy is a humorous and heartfelt study of a close, if fraught, father-son relationship. With an even more sophisticated visual style and understanding of fragile human relationships, Ozu seamlessly weaves rib-tickling comedy and weighty family drama for this distinguished early gem.

100 minutes
Black & White
Silent
Japanese Intertitles
1:26:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2008
Director/Writers



  • Another great Sosin score.
  • The first of the so-called “Kihachi” series — named for the main character played by Takeshi Sakamoto, who appears in 24 Ozu films between 1928 and 1948. Chishû Ryû appeared in 38 between 1928 and 1962, eventually picking up where Sakamoto left off in the portrayal of the Ozu alter-ego character.
  • Sakamoto and Tomio Aoki (Tomio) — who both appeared in I Was Born, But … (1932) — give beautiful, naturalistic performances here.
  • Ryû plays the naniwabushi singer in the opening music hall sequence.
  • There are three main gags in the scene, which is notable for Ozu’s quick introduction of characters and the swiftly panning camera:
    • Kihachi finds an empty coin purse and it gets passed around;
    • Everyone gets attacked by biting fleas; and
    • The way the barber applauds …
  • A lovely transition: Tomio is helping his hungover father get dressed. His pants are torn and he smooths out the rip with his hand /cut / CU on Otome (Chôko Iida) is sewing his pants /cut / medium shot where we see Tomio eating in the background.
  • In a variation on a typical Ozu theme, the father plays hooky while the responsible son goes to school.
  • The scene where Tomio unleashes his furious rage at his father is one of the most powerful moments in all of Ozu’s films.
  • Of course, no good deed goes unpunished. After making up with his son and giving him 50 sen spending money (a huge sum — remember the rice curry in Tokyo Chorus @ seven sen per plate?), the kids gets sick from eating too much (orange pop, jelly, cookies, fried cake, toffee, watermelon, and of course the cold sake Kihachi force-fed him).
  • In the scenes leading up to Kihachi’s departure, Ozu punctuates transitions with shots of exploding fireworks.
  • The final scene recalls a shared father-son joke and ends on a fermata of swaying trees.

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