Jordan Mattox

Movies:

1. Late Spring Yasujirō OzuOzu is name that I was familiar with, in part from the movie Tokyo Story (which I will come back to shortly), but I decided to make my way through some his more famous films starting with this one. Late Spring is about an adult woman living at home with her father who is encouraged to get married by a meddling aunt. A beautiful film. The framing of his shots is unparalleled. The visual artist in this film will leave you breathless if you go for this kind of film.
2. Scenes from a Marriage Ingmar Bergman I’ve started and stopped this film many times due to sheer pain at watching certain scenes, particularly the second scene which depicts the main characters having dinner with a couple who resent each other, get drunk, and make a scene. The film is honest and raw and probably the most real depiction of the challenges of marriage that I have seen. If you can survive the nearly three hours, it’s worth your time.
3. Early Summer Yasujirō OzuLate Spring and Early Summer have much in common, including cast and central conflict: a woman being encouraged into marriage by meddling family. This time, a visiting uncle encourages his unmarried niece that it is time to marry. Ultimately, the family is devastated when this finally comes to pass. Setsuko Hara, who plays the lead in both films discussed, is mesmerizing to watch and her performances are worth the price of admission.
4. Taxi Jafar PanahiI am just now discovering Panahi and feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. Panahi is the most famous filmmaker “working” in Iran, and he has had a lot of trouble doing so. Constantly in trouble with his government, Panahi has continued to make amazing films in spite of the pressure and threats to his life and welfare. In this film, Panahi is driving a taxi around Tehran picking up friends and strangers and engaging in fascinating conversations. My favorite of these fares is Jafar’s spunky niece who tries to make her own film simultaneously while driving around. I will be watching more of his films ASAP.
5. Tokyo Story Yasujirō OzuUnlike the previous two films from Ozu that I watched this month, Tokyo Story is film about generational changes, duties to one’s parents, and the westernization of Japanese culture after WWII. The stories follow elderly parents who come to Tokyo from the countryside to visit their adult children and grandchildren, who have little time for them. The tragic ending makes the film all the more poignant and speaks beyond its cultural context to all of us as we make the transition to adulthood and live lives apart from our families. My favorite of the three this month.

TV

1. Andor This is the best Star Wars content since the prequels or Rogue One. Most Star Wars are fairy tales or somewhat simple moral allegories. This series is more sociological, spends considerable and sympathetic time with officials in the empire. There were beautiful set pieces, a great prison break section, and much more. By far, some of the best TV I’ve watched in some time.
2. Welcome to WrexhamThis is a docuseries that follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they acquire and revive a dying football club in Wales. This an amazing story of two celebrities using their fame and their money to return a sense of community and pride in one of these communities, like ours in the rust belt, who have struggled with the changes that globalization has brought. Recommended.