Good Morning Movie Review 1959

One of Ozu's first color efforts, "Good Morning" is a light social comedy revolving around two young Japanese boys who try to talk their parents into buying them one of those new-fangled television sets. Not likely, since the Dad feels that the boob tube will dull the senses of the Japanese youth...talk about your ESP. The kids feel that there's too much small talk going on. Ozu keeps the camera at kids' eye-level, emphasizing the sympathetic perspective of the children and giving a unique look to the film. Bold colors populate the screen and Ozu keeps the story whimsical while commenting on Japanese society (very much like Juzo Itami would years later). The characters are well-fleshed out and likable.

Distribution

Criterion Collection, 210 E. 52nd St., 578 Broadway, New York, NY 10022, Phone: (212)212756-8822, Toll-free: 800-446-2001, URL: http://www.criterionco.com, Remarks: Does not sell directly to consumers

Available on DVD
Running time 94 minutes.
Originally from Japanese.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Family Comedy

Screenplay

Yasujiro Ozu, Kogo Noda

Cast

Masahiko Shimazu, Koji Shigaragi, Chishu Ryu, Kuniko Miyake

Cinematography

Yushun Atsuta

Director

Yasujiro Ozu

Music

Toshiro Mayuzumi