The Ozu Diaries documentary set for Japanese release on October 9

The documentary film ‘The Ozu Diaries’, directed by Academy Award nominee Daniel Leem, is scheduled for its Japanese release on October 9. Produced to commemorate the 120th anniversary of director Yasujiro Ozu’s birth, the film explores the life and cinematic origins of the legendary filmmaker.

Using personal archives such as diaries, letters, photographs, and previously unreleased home movies, the documentary examines how Ozu transformed personal loss and wartime trauma into timeless masterpieces like ‘Tokyo Story’, ‘Late Spring’, and ‘An Autumn Afternoon’. The film features insights from renowned directors including Wim Wenders, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the Dardenne brothers, and Tsai Ming-liang, alongside recollections from actors and producers who worked with Ozu.

To mark the premiere, a special screening series featuring 11 of Ozu’s works will be held from October 9 to October 29. Additionally, director Daniel Leem is set to visit Japan in September for promotional events, including a talk session with Kiyoshi Kurosawa in Tokyo and a screening at the 29th Yasujiro Ozu Memorial Tateshina Kogen Film Festival.