Ozu - Vol. 1 Details

Poignant story of a father and daughter.

Yasujiro Ozu was fascinated by the effect of change in the lives of ordinary people. The Noriko trilogy is films devoted to this subject, comprising Late Spring (1949), Early Summer (1951) and Tokyo Story (1953). Tokyo Story is the best known. However Late Spring (1972) is arguably an even more moving piece; the emotionally charged story of a Father (Chishu Ryu) and Daughter (Setsuko Hara) coming to terms with a future apart. Its greatness is held in the simplicity of this study of family life, retaining relevance even today.

The film never slips into sentimentality, remaining firmly in Ozu?s characteristic ?sympathetic sadness?. The performances are understated but magnificent, especially Hara as the daughter torn between her comfortable home life and the expectations of the world around her. The scene at the Noh theatre where she first sees her fathers intended wife is a masterpiece in itself.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Lovely film

I know nothing of Japanese family life in the early 1950's. This film seems to be so full of real people and their everyday concerns that I believed every single frame of it. And very beautifully it is framed too, the camera set only a few feet from the floor, usually with a limited field of vision. Watching, listening, participating in the action. On the rare moments when the camera opens out a vista for us it is precisely chosen by Ozu to give the visual and emotional effect that he wants. Precise and wonderful film-making. This story of the Mariyama family and their efforts to marry off their 28 year old daughter Noriko closely observes the actions and reactions of three generations of the family as they attempt to come to terms with Nariko's choice of husband. There is much more in this film and the plot is almost incidental to the observation of character. Yasogiro Ozu brings great warmth, compassion and irony to his story. As with life the happiness is tinged with sadness and regret. The only other Ozu film that I have seem is 'Tokyo Story' which I also remember as a masterpiece of world cinema. Highly recommended.