I have been told that... time doesn't flow in a straight…
“I have been told that... time doesn't flow in a straight line in my films. It goes round in a circle. Sometimes people comment that the films remind them of Ozu. Maybe that's right. But in Japan, nobody comments on how time passes in my films. So perhaps that is a different way of thinking.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Kore-eda sees time as cyclical, contrasting Western linear narratives, reflecting cultural perception of temporality in his films.
In simple terms: Time is circular, not linear, in his movies.
Key Takeaway
Embrace non‑linear storytelling.
Themes
culture
time
film theory
perception
narrative
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- film analysis
- cross‑cultural studies
- storyboarding
- directing
- screenwriting
Key Concepts
circular time
cultural relativism
cinematic rhythm
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your culture shape your sense of time?
- What narrative benefits arise from circular time?
A Different Perspective
Western audiences may misinterpret his style as nostalgic rather than structural.