Good Morning

A-

Directed by Yasujiro Ozu

Although thos who are expecting another "Tokyo Story" will be deeply disappointed, Yasujiro Ozu's whimsical and breezy comedy about two boys who try to pressure their parent into purchasing a television set is one of the directors most intimate and touching films.

"Good Morning" follows the intrigue of a handful of suburban families in post-War Japan as they go through everyday life trying to keep their spouses and children happy while not pissing off the neighbors. In the midst of the low key drama, Minoru and Isamu, two young boys who desperately want a TV after watching sumo at the home of their deadbeat, youthful neighbors. When their plea is rejected by their parents the two boys take a vow of silence, agreeing to speak only when their demands are met.

Like most of Ozu's films, the premise of "Good Morning" is simple and revolves primarily around the examination of intergenerational dynamics of Japanese familes. Ozu's real genius, in my opinion, is his ability to deal with these same dynamics in most of his films with varying degrees of seriousness. Indeed, "Tokyo Story" is a far different film thant "Early Summer," even though both deal with roughly the same subject matter, and "Good Morning" has a completely different tenor than either of the latter two films, complete with some hilarious set pieces and relentless fart jokes. As such, "Good Morning" completely lacks the seriousness and biting social critique of a film like "Tokyo Story," despite the fact that some critics have attempted to convince us that "Good Morning" is in fact a deep and textured commentary and post-war suburbia in Japan. It isn't, and those who are hoping to get a slice of "serious" Ozu in "Good Morning" will be sorely disappointed. This does not, however, change the fact that it is a wonderfull little movie that is funny and even immature at times but is also deeply compassionate and humanistic in the style of Ozu's best work.