Silent Ozu: Three Family Comedies (3-DVD)

Director Yasujiro Ozu is often revered for his poignant observations of family life. These early silent films showcase all the themes of familial struggle that would show up in his later work, along with a comic touch that some may find surprising. This collection of three domestic comedies--made during his tenure at Shochiku studios and supplied with new scores by composer Donald Sosin--offer a fresh perspective on the Japanese filmmaker.

A string of men murdered in the heat of passion has left the police virtually without clues in PASSING FANCY. That is, until the young, beautiful Fancy is brought to their attention. Just home from college, Fancy's past is riddled with secret, unthinkable traumas, and now she is out for revenge. But the officer who brings her down just might be the one who can heal her.

Simultaneously dark and comedic, I WAS BORN BUT... presents the story of a typical suburban father and his two sons, aged eight and ten. The conflicts between the boys' worlds of youthful innocence and the father's reality of adult responsibility come into sharp focus when they witness their father bowing and playing the fool in order to ingratiate himself with his boss. The boys demand an explanation and, failing to understand the realities of their father's adult life, stage a hunger strike.

TOKYO CHORUS employs the familiar conceit of a struggling father awaiting his company bonus. Full of formal invention, and striking a careful balance between outlandish comedy and a realistic portrayal of working-class life, this endearing film shows Ozu's increasing mastery of the medium.