"THE OZU DIARIES," directed by Academy Award Nominee Daniel Raim, marks the 120th birth anniversary of Japanese master filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu. With support from Shochiku Co. Ltd. and the Ozu estate, this documentary feature film intimately portrays Ozu through his diaries, letters, and interviews, enriched by rare archival footage, movie clips, and new insights from Ozu's closest collaborators. The film traces Ozu's journey from a rebellious young painter and cinephile to a master visual storyteller, renowned for classics like "I Was Born, But," "Late Spring," and "Tokyo Story." Notably, "Tokyo Story" was hailed as "The Greatest Film of All Time" in the 2012 Sight & Sound director's poll. The film showcases his meticulous methods and the profound simplicity that influenced modern directors, while also exploring his personal life and the cultural nuances in his portrayal of Japanese society. The documentary features contributions from contemporary masters, including Luc Dardenne, whose reflections explore the timeless relevance of Ozu's themes of family, generational conflict, and the passage of time. Slated for a 2024 release, "THE OZU DIARIES" offers a rare glimpse into Ozu's world that will captivate his ardent fans and those new to his work.
From left to right (top row): Hiromi Fujii (Shochiku Executive), Yuki Machida (producer), Daniel Raim (director/producer), Matt Severson (creative consultant), Koichi Furuya (cinematographer),
(bottom row) Yukiko Wachi (Head archivist from the Kawakita Memorial Film Archive), Kyoko Kagawa (actress, "Tokyo Story"), and Takuya Kawakami (sound recordist).
Filming the Ozu's diaries at the Kamakura Museum of Literature with Akiko Ozu (Yasujiro Ozu’s niece)
We are fortunate to have The Film Collaborative, a 501 (c)(3) organization as the Fiscal Sponsor for THE OZU DIAIRIES Documentary Project. If you’d like to make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION to help us finish film, please click the "DONATE" button below.
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