“Listen,” says one of the women, “I’ve just heard something odd.”

September 30, 2023 8:58 AM

“Good Morning sings with an insistent, subtle intelligence. It asks after the origin and purpose of language and suggests that the degree zero of speech is laughter, which is where the farts come in.”
posted by oulipian (7 comments total)

It’s such a good movie and a good article about it. If you want an anti-depressing film, Good Morning is one.
posted by Hypatia at 9:29 AM on September 30, 2023

This sounds cool, thanks for the recommendation!
posted by MiraK at 10:17 AM on September 30, 2023

I've seen this film (trailer) and the kids' farts sound more like beeps, to me.

Came in here hoping this was related to the the Steve Miller song, back from before his band went commercial, from their Number 5 LP which, last time I checked, still hadn't been released on CD.
posted by Rash at 12:16 PM on September 30, 2023

Sounds like Mon Oncle, except set in Japan and with much more farting.
posted by scruss at 2:21 PM on September 30, 2023

This movie was selection No. 67 of my Post-War Japanese Film Festival in March of 2016. I wrote the following then.

Ozu's commentary on the difficulties of parenthood, the nuisance of defiant children, the banality of small talk, the tedium of suburban gossip, and the dangers of ubiquitous television ownership both entertains and inspires thoughtful reflection.

It also must contain the most fart jokes of any Japanese movie ever made, by Ozu or anyone else.

It's truly a delightful story of suburban intrigue over woman's association dues and a conspiracy of two boys to force their parents to buy them a television set. All the trademark Ozu elements — hallway-crossing shots, closely framed walking-towards-the-camera shots, through-the-door-from-the-next-room shots, acting-direct-to-camera shots — are present in their measure, but it's not a serious movie so it doesn't feel like homework. I can't think of another Ozu movie that made me laugh like this one did. More than once. Not just at farts.

At the same time, it's a very serious movie. What happens to the old ways if people boycott the obligatory small talk that adults must engage in to keep the wheels of society greased? Is there even room for an Ozu in a world circumscribed by television? When is it okay to give in to wheedling from bratty children? Is "100 million Japanese, all middle class" really code for "100 million television-watching idiots?"

This isn't necessarily Ozu's best movie, but it is perhaps his most enjoyable. Especially for people coming to it from an Hollywood sensibility. If you were turned off by Criterion Collection Film Festival No. 1 Tokyo Story, Post-War Film Festival No. 54 Early Summer, or even No. 63 Floating Weeds, this is your gateway into Yasujiro Ozu's life and work.

P.S. Seriously, it's worth it just to see Ozu make so many fart jokes.

P.P.S. I want to add that one thing that merits more thought is that all the housewives in this movie are depicted wearing full kimono at all times. The younger women, and all the men and children, wear western clothes or school uniforms patterned on western military uniforms. Ozu is trying to say something with who dresses how in this picture that I'm going to have to think about.

P.P.P.S. Here in 2023, events overtook and I never did figure out what Ozu was trying to say with who dressed how in this picture.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:44 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

It also must contain the most fart jokes of any Japanese movie ever made, by Ozu or anyone else.

We're gonna have to do a line breakdown comparison between this and Zombie Ass: Toilet of the Dead
posted by FatherDagon at 10:12 AM on October 2, 2023

I think the first Ozu movie I watched was Tokyo Story. This was definitely #2.

I either totally missed or forgot about the last scene that the article references, and now that I have that tidbit of knowledge I love the movie just a little bit more. It really is a lovely film.
posted by chrominance at 12:34 PM on October 3, 2023