OZU: 12 ROOMS

The universally acclaimed Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu died on December 12, 1963, on his 60th birthday. Since then, numerous attempts have been made to interpret the origins of his signature style and aesthetics. What makes Ozu's films so beloved by scholars, filmmakers, and cinephiles worldwide? Why was his 1953 film Tokyo Story voted "The Greatest Film of All Time" in the 2012 Sight & Sound poll of 358 directors around the world?

Told largely in Ozu's own words, Ozu: 12 Rooms takes audiences on a personal journey into the world of the master director, revealing the influences and moments that shaped his life and career. Through rare archival footage, Ozu's own writings, visits to archives housing physical gems central to Ozu’s art, and interviews with the filmmaker's family, actors, and colleagues, we explore the 12 rooms of his life - from his early days as a rebellious student to his prolific career as the director of such masterworks as I Was Born, But..., Late Spring, Early Summer, Tokyo Story, Good Morning, and An Autumn Afternoon. The film also examines his unique techniques and his impact on the world of film through new interviews with contemporary directors influenced by Ozu.

With Ozu as our guide, this documentary offers a rare and intimate look at the man and his work, allowing viewers to experience his life and art through his eyes.

Ozu's life was marked by the number 12. He was born on 12/12/1903 and died 60 years later on his birthday on 12/12/1963. Essentially, we are exploring 12 key aspects of the director's life that are loosely chronological in nature.

For more information, contact director/producer Daniel Raim: daniel.raim@gmail.com 

+1 323-697-2887 or Co-Producer Yuki Machida at yukisnow74@gmail.com