Observations on Film Art No. 37

One of the last Japanese directors to make the transition to sound, Yasujiro Ozu continued making silent pictures until the midthirties. His lovely 1933 domestic drama PASSING FANCY is a gently humorous take on one of his signature themes: the relationship between fathers and sons. In this edition of Observations on Film Art, Professor David Bordwell explores the many ways in which Ozu’s distinctive approach to editing shapes the viewer’s engagement with the characters and their conflicts, adding another dimension to the poignant, human story at the heart of the film.