Review of Late Spring (1949) by Alan W — 28 Aug 2017

This is the second Ozu film I've seen after Tokyo Story and at this point I want to seek out all his others, at least all the post-war stuff. Chishu Ryu, who plays the old man in the later film, and Setsuko Hara, who plays his daughter-in-law there, are both in this one too, and by jiminy they're good.

Whereas Tokyo Story takes the point of view of a number of characters, this one is really focussed almost entirely on the father-daughter relationship between Ryu and Hara, which it gradually emerges is so intense that the two, especially the daughter, are troubled by the idea of her leaving for a husband, even though it's now "late spring" for her, as she's 27.

As with Tokyo Story the plot sounds almost trivially mundane, yet these great actors and director manage to imbue it with amazing emotional power, and it's hard to hold back the tears at the end when the father reveals his sacrifice.

There's wisdom, nobility of spirit, and generosity in Ozu's films that turns these simple family dramas into pinnacles of cinematic art.