Good Morning

Ozu's hilarious technicolor re-working of his silent I was born, but..., Good Morning (Ohayo) is the story of two young boys in suburban Tokyo who take a vow of silence after their parents refuse to buy them a television set. Shot from the perspective of the petulant brothers, Good Morning is an enchantingly satirical portrait of family life that gives rise to gags about romance, gossip, and the consumerism of modern Japan.



Overview
Master Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu's satirical family comedy Good Morning comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The Japanese soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. There are no special features on this release, but this film is of a high enough quality that the disc can be recommended all the same. Anyone with an interest in world cinema will certainly want to give this DVD a look.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Good Morning is thoroughly enjoyable comedy that, somewhat atypically for director Yasujiro Ozu, is sunny throughout, without the darkness or sense of melancholy that rests under the surface of most of this gentle director's work. Also atypically, it is shot in rather startling color, rather than black-and-white, giving it a glossy visual sheen that is quite appropriate for the subject matter. Otherwise, Ozu's trademark visual look is untouched; Good Morning is filled with the same beautiful composed long shots, most often filmed from close to the ground, and edited sparingly. While there is a serious theme to Good Morning, involving the art and importance of communication and how different generations view it, its treatment is rather light and superficial. This makes for an undeniably charming film, but it also seems a little "safe" for Ozu, a film that in many ways would not have been unwelcome in Hollywood at the time. Still, the master director provides many wonderful touches, from the manner in which he creates and observes a very real and very specific community to the palpable affection he feels for his characters. The cast is perfectly in tune with the director, and the work of the children is especially impressive. While one wishes that the film were ultimately more substantial, it's still a wonderful light meal for cinema fans.