Five Dedicated to Ozu (2003) FotW #311

[Cocoa]

Film of the Week #311: Five Dedicated to Ozu (2003)



Summary:
Five sequences :

Potential Spoilers of each sequence

1) A piece of driftwood on the seashore, carried about by the waves 2) People walking on the seashore. The oldest ones stop by, look at the sea, then go away 3) Blurry shapes on a winter beach. A herd of dogs. A love story 4) A group of loud ducks cross the image, in one direction then the other 5) A pond, at night. Frogs improvising a concert. A storm, then the sunrise.

#381 on 500<400, with 198 checks.
Nominated by 72aicm, joachimt, and xianjiro.
On IMDb
On iCM

From the 500<400 results

#381(NEW) Five Dedicated to Ozu (2003)

Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami
(295.26 Pts, 8 Votes) , Top 1–10–50: 0–1–3
History: 381←546←525←230←181←116←NA

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ICheckMovies: 190 Checks , 13 Favourites , 1 Official list

List of Voters:

Kasparius (4)
clemmetarey (22)
Gershwin (23)
Dolwphin (NA)
beavis (165)
Rokp (269)
mathiasa (392)
perceval (490)

This movie fits the current Documentary.



Here is a schedule of all the FotWs.

[mathiasa]

Shows the great formal talent of Kiarostami. Very contemplative, watching it is kinda like meditation. Not for anyone, probably needs an experienced eye for full appreciation. 8.5/10

[Fergenaprido]

Not for anyone, probably needs an experienced eye for full appreciation.

What kind of experience? Are there certain Ozu films one should see first before watching this one?

[joachimt]

I've seen the first 40 minutes so far and I don't get any Ozu-vibe. It looks more like James Benning to me.

[72aicm]

Guess I don’t have the experience Mathias are raving about.

[mathiasa]

Not for anyone, probably needs an experienced eye for full appreciation.

What kind of experience? Are there certain Ozu films one should see first before watching this one?

No, just watching in generell.

@joachimt: I can’t see the similarity. the camera movement un the first scene is very different from a benning.


I guess the link to Ozu is mostly formal (besides the tranquil, meditative aspect). Wiki states: „As in a typical Ozu film, the camera never moves, zooms or pans. There is no dialogue, and only one shot includes people.“

[joachimt]

@joachimt: I can’t see the similarity. the camera movement un the first scene is very different from a benning.

What about the shot that starts just after 21 min and remains completely static for almost 20 min? I haven't watched past that one btw.

[xianjiro]

Another Kiarostami screen saver film is official! Although 24 Frames only made it due to Criterion Collection inclusion.

I did enjoy making up dialogue for the vignette of the four old geezers (see photo in OP). That livened things up a bit.

I'm totally with the Benning comment. Stunning prequel to 13 Lakes: this could have been called something like Three Seas, A Puddle, and A Swamp.

The dog like the third scene though.

6 out of 10

[xianjiro]

PS: we should have sponsored a "guess that beach" contest along with this FotW inclusion!

[joachimt]

I'm totally with the Benning comment. Stunning prequel to 13 Lakes: this could have been called something like Three Seas, A Puddle, and A Swamp.

I was thinking the same thing yesterday: Now! From the creator of Ten Skies and 13 Lakes! His new dazzling cinematic experience! Coming to your local cinema in sparkling 2D! Five Seas: or Other Watery Tales

[Nathan Treadway]

Hmm.. I'm surprised this isn't in my list?

On a somewhat related note, I was thinking about going with Kiarostami's Shirin should I make it out of the first round of the World Cup, but, I really don't want to see it torn to shreds, which it almost certainly will.

[joachimt]

5/10

[Cocoa]

Just watched this and I agree that the film isn't very Ozu-esque. Based off the title of this film, I was expecting something different. Maybe a film with melodramatic dialogue, maybe themes involving family or (after I read part of the summary) even something based off different seasons (which could easily be done in a nature documentary by just filming at the same location different times throughout the year). Instead, we just get a few different bodies of water with some people in front of it or some creatures and sometimes the creatures makes sound while other times music is used. The music didn't really fit the same mood as what the scenes were conveying to me, and the black screen used to break up the scenes lasted too many seconds in my opinion.

Also, I felt like certain scenes were sped up. I have doubts that all the people walked as fast as they did. A place with no slow walkers seems like a fantasy.

[joachimt]

A place with no slow walkers seems like a fantasy.

I would love to live at a place like that. I hate slow walkers!

[joachimt]

I just noticed this movie was my 7000th official check. Not really a milestone-worthy movie. Ah well, I never tried to watch a milestone for round check-numbers.