"Moved by the work of director Yasujiro Ozu, Wim Wenders travels to Japan in search of the Tokyo seen in his films."
I think this is the documentary of my dreams. It was made in 1983 and the title translates to 'Tokyo Images', it's also been described as Wim Wender's filmic diary of his trip to Tokyo.
I love the intimate and sometimes philosophical narration, the simple lingering shots and the contrast between the slightly unsettling jazz score and the lighter synthesiser track that sometimes replaces it.
I immediately related to the premise of the doco, in hindsight after visiting Tokyo and being totally overwhelmed by the city, I realised that I was looking for the Japan and the Tokyo depicted in Murakami books, many of which were written or are set in the 80s and 90s.
In this film you get to go inside a factory that makes all of the plastic food displays you see all over Japan (I can't tell you how much I loved this part, especially in two parts - when a wax sandwich is made and when a worker makes a tempura prawn!) and hang out with business men who picnic together in the park.
The work of the Japanese filmmaker Ozu is unfamiliar to me, but some of the most moving parts of the doco come from interviews with those who worked with him, including a camera man who stayed with the director from his assistant days until Ozu passed away at 60. Interestingly I don't think the interviews were subtitled, just paraphrased by the director. Also - there's quite a focus on trying out some of the filming techniques Ozu used at points in the film.
The film isn't online in full (sorry) but you can watch the trailer here. You can also read the NY Times review of the film from 1985 (!). And I found the first 6 minutes of the film online here.
You may have already seen this film but it's new to me :) I bought a small collection of Wim Wenders docos in Melbourne late last year and am only getting into them now. I'll be happy to lend them soon.
At the Sydney Film Festival in 1983 I saw two films that convinced me I needed to travel to Japan, and soon. Those films were Tokyo Ga by Wim, and Sans Soleil by Chris Marker. If you haven't seen San Soleil you need to. It's almost like a companion piece to Tokyo Ga, but much darker. Both films are essay type documentaries, with the filmmaker speaking from his own experience. Delving into the strange culture of Japan and being mystified and astounded. And Japan was possibly much stranger in the early 80s than it is today. More exotic to the outsider, and westerners more exotic to the Japanese. I did get to go to Japan soon after, the very next year in 1984. I just loved Japan from the moment I stepped off the plane. I was almost shaking with excitement about being there, a feeling I've rarely had since. I carried with me a Sony Walkman that had inbuilt stereo mics, and made field recordings as I walked around! I've still got the cassettes! Things like me going on a guided tour of Tokyo Tower, and you can hear the guide pointing out many landmarks in the Tokyo skyline. And Mt. Fuji visible miles away. Tokyo had a record snowfall that year. I loved the cold. I loved Japan. Thanks for the links, I'd really like to see the full film again. Perhaps a screening night sometime, and then a viewing of our Japan snaps? (I've still got my 1984 snaps somewhere).
ReplyDeleteAlmost shaking with excitement! I would love to hear the tapes and do a slide night. Japan appreciation night here we come. I have this great Japanese themed zine that was made by one of my favourite Sydney writers/bloggers a few years ago that I'll bring along. I also have a sushi colouring in book :)
DeleteI'm particularly intrigued by the idea of Tokyo being stranger and more exotic in the 80s. In my mind, it was simpler in some way, and less confronting - which now sounds really far from reality! Right before I went, I was watching a lot of Hayao Miyazaki cartoons like My Neighbour Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo, which were incredibly colourful, human and sweet and probably not the best prep for experiencing a city like Tokyo.
VM - when Bryn is older you'll have to get him some Miyazaki DVDs, they're really magical to watch as an adult but are designed for kids.