Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice (Ochazuke no aji)
Directed by Yasujirô Ozu
Written by Kôgo Oda and Yasujirô Oxu
1952/Japan
Shôchiku Eiga
First viewing/Hulu
Taeko Satake: Think well before you pick your groom, it’s important
How can you not love a film that features such establishments as the Calorie House restaurant and the Bittersweet Lessons in Life pachinko parlor?
Mokichi and Taeko Sakate are a childless couple who have been married long enough for the bloom to be off the rose. She lies to him to go on weekend vacations with her girlfriends and he spends most of his time in the office. She scolds him and he grunts. She calls him Mr. Oblivious.
Taeko’s niece is of marriageable age and the relatives set up a meeting with a prospective groom for her at a kabuki performance. She goes but quickly flees. She ends up spending the entire evening with Mokichi at his old army buddy’s pachinko parlor. At the end of the evening when her mother and aunt have been searching for her everywhere, she is found in Taeko’s own house with Mokichi. Taeko orders Mokichi to talk to her about her irresponsibility and he begins to. But finally he says he understands her reluctance to marry because, after all, it might turn out like his marriage to Taeko.
Taeko responds by giving Mokichi the silent treatment for several days. He tries to tell her how he feels about her criticism of his eating habits, cigarette brand etc. but she refuses to listen. Finally, she leaves a note saying she has gone away for a few days. Then Mokichi’s employer sends him on an overseas business trip. This is a big, big deal in 1952 Japan and all his friends and relatives are on the airport tarmac to see him off except his wife. She returns to an empty house. This incident provokes the crisis that leads to the film’s happy ending.
If there is anything that drives me wild, it is the silent treatment. I spent most of the film being furious at the wife’s behavior. But she learns her lesson so all was well. It never ceases to amaze me how Ozu is able to begin with the slowest and most plotless of stories only to have the viewer totally emotionally invested by the end. This film doesn’t rank with his greatest but is nonetheless recommended.
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