week 7

Films: I Was Born But… (Yasujiro Ozu, 1932)

The Great Train Robbery (Edwin S. Porter, 1903)

Reading Due:

1.     Charles Musser, “Moving Towards Fictional Narratives: Story Films Become the Dominant Product, 1903-1904” (TSCR)

2.     “Film Form: Genre and Narrative” (EC)

In the past weeks when I would attempt to watch the longer, more narrative-based silent films, I really struggled with being able to follow the story. This week with I Was Born But… (Yasujiro Ozu, 1932), I found myself much more invested in the story and I found it easier to follow as well. I think what really did for me was how invested I got into the family dynamic of the film. Being Asian myself, I was able to relate to some of the arguments between the children and the father, the struggles of having to move to a new place, the innocence of childhood, etc. Even to non-Asian viewers, the relationship between the children and the father and the relationship between the two brothers is easily relatable to the mass audience.

I found it interesting that the film is a comedy but it could also serve well as a drama as well. I found the music slightly off-putting during some of the scenes, during some of the more emotional scenes, the scores were still upbeat and happy. But maybe because it is a comedy, it was necessary to keep the mood upbeat and light while still maintaining some of the darker scenes of the film. I wonder if the film was done completely silent if it would've had the same effect.

In conclusion, the film manages to tackle more serious themes such as gangs, bullying, and social-economic status. It was a good balance of wittiness and social commentary.