Gates Of Heaven

This is one of those movies that was probably really revolutionary at the time but doesn't hold up quite as well. It's a documentary about pet semetaries. I think it's legacy is probably in that it helped open up the documentary genre to character studies, not just history pieces or rock concerts. Errol Morris, the director, tries to understand what drives people to spend an amazing amount of resources of their pet's after life. The plot is great, but the pacing is a little too slow and a lot of the story is told with talking head.

Tokyo Story

I had to watch at least one movie by our dog's namesake, Yasujior Ozu. I remember when I took a film class the professor said all film boils down to three names, Bresson, Dreyer and Ozu. Because most of the "Best of" lists are American based (like the AFI list that just came out) these guys get left off. So I needed to make sure I watched at least one by this trinity.
I watched this film in two installments which was a good idea. I find these films stretch my attention span, but also this gives me a chance to sit with the film a little longer. Tokyo Story is basicaly about normal people experiencing normal life. Generational differences is the central theme but it seems like Ozu is trying to figure out what to make of what I imagine are the monumental changes in Japan after WW2. The basic idea is that two elderly parents visit their children in Tokyo and the children as basically too busy to deal with their visitors. Some of the children are oblivious to their selfishness while others are immobilized by it.
There are some great film making techniques here - especially the use of architeture and city scenes to give a sense of clostrophobia.