Days of Youth (Yasujiro Ozu, 1929)What? No one told me that the first available Ozu film is going to be a slapstick buddy comedy set in a ski resort just chockablock with laughs! It's a simple enough premise. Two friends on vacation attempting to woo the same girl in vain. But what makes it so much fun are the two male leads who are just brilliant! Yuki's slick, carefree personality is the perfect contrast to Saito's earnest, bumbling self. I was a little surprised by the opening shot where the camera pans across the city. I've only watched 2 Ozu features prior to this but this one felt pretty different stylewise form what I've come to expect from him. This one has the feel of someone experimenting with the camera. It's full of close-ups and tracking shots and the camera rarely stays still. Seriously, just so funny and adorable!
Grade: B+
Fighting Friends (Yasujiro Ozu, 1929)A 14-minute short that is only a slight variation on
Days of Youth. Here we have two friends sharing a house and working together. They rescue a woman and bring her home and both of them end up falling for her. This one is fun as well but not as much fun as
Days of Youth. This one also feels a little darker and sadder especially due to the closing shot which is somewhat heartbreaking.
Grade: B-
I also love that
both films prominently feature posters from Hollywood movies even though it feels particularly incongruous in the short
. Also, I can't get over how many of his films seem to be lost forever (17 as per my count :'().