BFI Bringing More Ozu Films To Blu-ray. Yoji Yamada To Make Film Inspired By Ozu’s Tokyo Story

With what would have been Yasujiro Ozu’s 107^th birthday on Sunday, it appears as though a few different outlets are set to pay their respects to the late Japanese auteur.

First, Blu-ray.com is reporting that BFI Video will be releasing two more films as part of The Ozu Collection that the company kick started in the fall.   On January 17, 2011, the company will be releasing Equinox Flower, Ozu’s 1958 film which also happened to be the auteur’s first color feature, as well as Good Morning.

Along with the two main features, each disc will come with a previously unseen (at least on UK DVD) early Ozu film, both of which are Criterion releases.   There Was A Father joins Equinox Flower, while I Was Born, But’¦ joins Good Morning. Both come with an illustrated booklet.

Finally, according to a report posted at Tokyograph (via J Film Pow Wow), Yoji Yamada is set to make a new film centered around the plot of Ozu’s Tokyo Story.   No cast or title have been given to this project, but it is currently set for a release in early 2012. The director will also be directing a stage adaptation of the film for Tokyo’s Mitsukoshi theater.

While I’m not familiar with Yamada’s work, at least not as much as I’d like to be, I do have quite a bit of interest in seeing what the director will be able to do with this type of material.   Hopes are definitely high for both of these projects.

Source: Blu-ray.com / Tokyograph / J Film Pow Wow