Made in 1952, a year before Tokyo Story, some critics have joked that The Flavour of Green Tea over Rice is one of the more energetic of Ozu’s movies, stylistically speaking. At times, characters ride in trains and cars and the camera actually moves!
In terms of content, this seems to be a film that aims to penetrate the perplexing emotional turmoil deriving from the custom of arranged marriages. But, whatever social implications the story may have, Ozu seems less interested in constructing a cultural critique than he is in exploring the emotional impact on his characters lives as they struggle with their own, perhaps unrealistic expectations of romance and love.
The narrative action (a risky word to use in regards describing any Ozu film) appears to centre on an arranged marriage in its mid-life. Takeo (Michiyo Kogure, superb) contrives to stay away from her home-life and husband Mokichi (Shin Saburi) as much as possible; she plots over-night getaways with her gal pals and openly patronises him. Meanwhile, Mokichi tolerates the lies and derision with an epic stoicism. Observing all this is Mokichi’s 21-year-old niece Setsuko (Keiko Tsushima) who openly rebels against an arranged matchmaking meeting.
Ozu negotiates the strands of plot and conflict here in a way that is so skilful it’s only after the film ends that one realises just how unconventional and unpredictable the final resolution actually is. Typically for Ozu, it’s the tiny rituals and habits of everyday life that are important; a greeting, eating habits, dress sense etc.
In some films, the great character revelation is a dark secret, which is a test of character. In this remarkable film, the emotionally devastating moment comes not from an outward expression of feeling clearly articulated but in observing the making of a modest meal of rice, flavoured by green tea. It’s a superb image and a striking metaphor; the dish is wholesome, decent and sustaining.
The major extra feature is an audio commentary from two Melbourne based film scholars: Dr. Wendy Haslem, Lecturer in Film at the University of Melbourne, and Dr. Gabrielle Murray, Lecturer in Film at La Trobe University. It’s an interesting listen and a fine dissertation on Ozu’s style and sensibility, even if the delivery is less than lively.
