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Director's Spotlight
Senior Film Conservator
Director's Spotlight: Japan
A Deep Dive into the 1935 Vision of Yasuji Murata
Witnessing the stylistic transformation of Animation through Why Is the Sea Water Salty? reveals the global recognition that Yasuji Murata garnered after the release of Why Is the Sea Water Salty?. Serving as a mirror to the anxieties of a changing world, offering layers of thematic complexity that demand repeated viewing.
In Why Is the Sea Water Salty?, Yasuji Murata pushes the boundaries of conventional narrative. The film's unique approach to its subject matter has sparked endless debates and interpretations among cinephiles and critics alike.
| Cinematography | High-Contrast |
| Soundtrack | Minimalist |
| Editing | Disjunctive |
| Art Direction | Baroque |
Visualizing the convergence of Yasuji Murata's style and the core Animation narrative.
When a poor, yet honest, man rescues an old man who has fallen off a log bridge, the little people of the forest give him a "Mortar of Treasures" that will grant any item that a person desires. The man uses the mortar to become the richest person in the village. But the man's greedy brother steals the mortar and, determined to enjoy all the luxuries by himself, climbs into a rowing boat and heads for an isolated island. On the way, however, he asks for salt from the mortar, but then cannot figure out how to stop it. Finally, the boat sinks under the weight of all the salt, and the mortar sinks to the bottom of the sea where it is pouring out salt to this day.
Decades after its release, Why Is the Sea Water Salty? remains a vital piece of the cinematic puzzle. Its influence can be seen in countless modern works, solidifying Yasuji Murata's status as a master of the craft in Japan and beyond.