Treasure Mountain (1929) Review: Before Ozu became Ozu

If you're looking for that slow, quiet Ozu style with the tea and the crying, you won't find much of it here. Treasure Mountain is from 1929 and it's basically a bunch of college guys being extremely extra.

It’s worth watching if you want to see where a master started, or if you just like old Japanese slapstick. People who want a deep meaning about life will probably find it too silly.

Honestly, the way Tokuji Kobayashi carries himself is so funny. He has this bouncy walk that feels like he's about to trip over his own feet every five seconds. 🤡

There is a scene with a group of students in a dorm that just feels... real? Like, I've been in that messy room with the piles of books and the smell of old laundry.

It’s not as polished as something like The New Babylon which came out around the same time. That one feels like "Art" with a capital A, while this feels like a home movie with a bigger budget.

The writing by Akira Fushimi and Ozu is pretty light. They don't try to make some big point about the "human condition" or whatever. It's just kids wanting to have a good time and maybe getting into a bit of trouble along the way. 🍻

I noticed one guy in the background of a street scene who looks like he has no idea why there is a camera there. He just stares for a bit too long. It’s great.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Treasure Mountain (1929) through its definitive frames.

The pacing is a bit all over the place. One minute they are running around, and the next, the movie just stops to look at a hat or a doorway. 🎩

It’s a bit like The Beauty Shop in that it's more about the vibe of the era than a super tight plot. You just kind of hang out with these people.

I really wish we had more of these early Ozu films. You can see him trying out shots that he’d later get famous for, but here they feel like happy accidents. 🎞️

Yurie Hinatsu is charming, though she doesn't get a ton to do. She mostly just has to react to the guys being complete idiots.

The film ends kind of abruptly. It’s like they ran out of film or just decided they were hungry and went to lunch. 🍱

If you've seen The Fall of the House of Usher from the year before, the difference in tone is hilarious. One is all spooky and weird, and this is just pure chaos.

It's a nice little time capsule. Nothing life-changing, but it made me smile more than I expected for a silent movie from a hundred years ago.

Some of the titles are a bit hard to read because they go by so fast. Or maybe I'm just a slow reader. Either way, it's a mood.