Review of Late Spring (1949) by Darryl J — 27 Nov 2008
Yasujiro Ozu makes the most "human" films I've ever seen. He never pushes melodrama down out throats. I know he's a wonderful director but I feel a better term for him would be an observer.
I always feel like I drop in on these people's lives. His eye-level directing puts you right with the characters. His stories seem to creep up on to you. The pacing is just right. Some say his films are slow but I don't see how.
The characters and dialogue are just perfect. Chishu Ryu and Setsuko Hara are entirely effective in this. Ryu has one of the most lovable faces ever put on screen. Hara has this smile that makes you smile but it essentially acts as a mask to hide what she's truly feeling.
It's pretty incredible. Let's get back to the story,though. It follows a father and daughter who basically want the same thing but are torn apart by notions of tradition and marriage. The way Ozu skillfully tells this story that seems so simple on the surface is wonderful.
The more I think about this,the more I realize how complex and powerful it is. I loved this film so much. Needless to say,I had tears in my eyes by the end.
This review of Late Spring (1949) was written by Darryl J on 27 Nov 2008.
Late Spring has generally received very positive reviews.
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