‘The Ozu Diaries’: An engaging look at the man behind the myth

The director of films once considered too domestic for foreign export, Yasujiro Ozu (1903-1963) now sits high in the world cinematic pantheon. From his signature low camera angles to the “pillow” shots that serve as postcard-like pauses between scenes, his technique has been obsessively analyzed but remains sui generis. That, however, is not the main subject of the splendid Daniel Raim documentary “The Ozu Diaries.” Drawing from Ozu’s journals and essays as well as other archival materials, it focuses more on the man and artist than his aesthetics.