Late Spring (1949)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Luke B

  
  Another fantastic example of Ozu's work. As usual, very restrianed and very simple. Ozu examines family relationships and the social beliefs of Japan at the time. The struggles of women and the worries of fathers are all played out. Late Spring focuses on Ryu once again playing a… More
  Another fantastic example of Ozu's work. As usual, very restrianed and very simple. Ozu examines family relationships and the social beliefs of Japan at the time. The struggles of women and the worries of fathers are all played out. Late Spring focuses on Ryu once again playing a single father, and his daughter Noriko. Many of Ozu's films deal with the effects of a marriage on a family. Here, Noriko does not want to get married. She is content with her life with her father. She enjoys looking after her father and worries about he will be able to cope without her. As it progresses Ryu must make the choice of letting his daughter go. Even if he must trick her to set her free. The great thing about Ozu is that he doesn't tell us what to think, a story is laid out in front of us with each characters emotions open to interpretation. A very moving ending, but one that doesn't try and make us cry. Slow and boring to some, Ozu is a director who has no need to try and impress his audience. Ironically, this is the most impressive thing about him.

• danny d

  
  although ozu typically starts slow, this film begins slower than most of his. however, by the time it picks up, it becomes one of ozu's most emotionally powerful films. in particular japanese fashion noriko's father doesnt display any emotion until completely alone, and… More
  although ozu typically starts slow, this film begins slower than most of his. however, by the time it picks up, it becomes one of ozu's most emotionally powerful films. in particular japanese fashion noriko's father doesnt display any emotion until completely alone, and then it hits hard, but hara gave a phenomenal and emotionally charged performance. i never get tired of seeing ryu or hara in an ozu film, and ozu's camera shots are typically strong in this film. the bike riding scene, the scene on the road after the play, and the discussion towards the end just before the wedding are all phenomenal, and as is usual for ozu, we get a wonderful portrait of japanese culture and family life.

• Anthony L

  
  Late Spring is by far my favourite of Ozu's Noriko trilogy, although they are all brilliant. The films captures a certain acceptance that post war Japan was going through in the late 40's early 50's, a change in traditions but not necessarily a change in values. Ozu… More
  Late Spring is by far my favourite of Ozu's Noriko trilogy, although they are all brilliant. The films captures a certain acceptance that post war Japan was going through in the late 40's early 50's, a change in traditions but not necessarily a change in values. Ozu doesn't preach though, it is what it is - and what it is is a masterpiece made by one of the greatest directors of all time. Setsuko Hara is beautiful and plays Noriko perfectly, she says so much with just a slight change of expression, it's easy to see why Ozu cast her so often. A perfect film.

• Saskia D

  
  What I liked about this movie, is the gradual attachment that grows between you and the characters. I've got this with all the Ozu's I've seen so far: in the beginning it's very neutral, but when he gets to the core of the relationships, I find it deeply moving.… More
  What I liked about this movie, is the gradual attachment that grows between you and the characters. I've got this with all the Ozu's I've seen so far: in the beginning it's very neutral, but when he gets to the core of the relationships, I find it deeply moving. This movie explores the bond between a father and his daughter. It's about making sacrifices, or being prepared to make sacrifices for each other. Not something you see very often anymore in today's society, <div style="width:270px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/setsuko-hara-late-spring-wedding-day-11363480"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/11/36/34/11363480_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">

• Stella D

  
  every bit as good as tokyo story, due in large part to setsuko hara's subtle performance and the film's investment in her character. the plot concerns a twenty-something woman who is manipulated into following society's conventions; once again a simple domestic story… More
  every bit as good as tokyo story, due in large part to setsuko hara's subtle performance and the film's investment in her character. the plot concerns a twenty-something woman who is manipulated into following society's conventions; once again a simple domestic story told in such a peaceful and powerful way... it feels very modern and timeless all at once.

• Lanning :

  
  <b>Banshun</b><p>A beautiful -- and very modern feeling, considering it is nearly 60 years old -- portrayal of the changing concepts of family and marriage in post-WWII Japan. The damage of the war, although specifically brought up in just a few brief mentions, is… More
  <b>Banshun</b><p>A beautiful -- and very modern feeling, considering it is nearly 60 years old -- portrayal of the changing concepts of family and marriage in post-WWII Japan. The damage of the war, although specifically brought up in just a few brief mentions, is foregrounded by the absent Somiya family mother, and the way this affects both the bond between father and daughter and the loyal daughter's attitude toward the possibility of her own marriage. <p> Nearing precariously the age of confirmed and irrevocable spinsterhood, only daughter Noriko finally gives in to the subtle yet impassioned plea of her father to accept an arranged marriage and thus follow what has always been, he argues, the accepted path of single women, the natural path of custom and of history. Noriko, however, will only finally agree to marriage, to breaking her seemingly unbreakable bond with her father, when her father lies to her, telling her that he will not be alone, that he will marry again, so Noriko need not worry any longer about him. <p> Sadly, the good intention behind this lie and his daughter's hoped for happiness are not enough to leave the father, Shukichi, unaffected by his daughter's new upward journey on the road to marital bliss and security. The final scene where Shukichi, now sitting alone in his empty house, hangs his head in sorrow, is a bittersweet sign that this ultimate sacrifice for his daughter's well-being will leave him very much alone and lonely indeed.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Late Spring", Professor Somiya(Chishu Ryu) is a widow who lives with his grown daughter, Noriko(Setsuko Hara), in the suburbs of Tokyo. Noriko had been ill during the war due to working forced labor, but she has since recovered. And since she is… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Late Spring", Professor Somiya(Chishu Ryu) is a widow who lives with his grown daughter, Noriko(Setsuko Hara), in the suburbs of Tokyo. Noriko had been ill during the war due to working forced labor, but she has since recovered. And since she is 27, a great deal of thought is given to who she will marry, especially by her aunt.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Late Spring" is a simple and bittersweet tale, told elegantly. The movie is about rebirth, not only on a personal but also a national level, and one generation giving way to another.[/font]

• Chris B

  
  Let me start this review off by saying that I have known about the master of traditional Japanese cinema for a long time but this is my first film by Ozu that I have been able to watch and it's a great and very personal drama that is beautiful to behold! Ozu has a very… More
  Let me start this review off by saying that I have known about the master of traditional Japanese cinema for a long time but this is my first film by Ozu that I have been able to watch and it's a great and very personal drama that is beautiful to behold! Ozu has a very distinctive and wonderfully Japanese sense to his work and his style and it really is a thing of beauty. The way he focuses on nature in between the character's actions and dialogue is very poetic and beautiful. Another of his trademarks is his low camera height that he films from and it's a wonderfully unique style that really captures the feel and space that the character's embody in his films. The story is personal and poignant and is mainly between a father and his daughter as he pushes for her to finally marry at the age of 27. She, having taken care of her father for so long and spending her time living and being with him, doesn't want things to change in her mind. The father eventually concocts an idea and tells his daughter that she should marry as he himself is going to remarry soon. This basically ensures that she will finally accept the change coming and find her own happiness apart from her father and form it anew with her husband. The father knows this and once she does submit and agree to marry it's revealed to us that the father has no intention to remarry and only tells his daughter so in order for her to have her own life apart from him. The story is beautifully simplistic in both it's portrayal and message but also very realistic and very touching as it's a universally applicable film! I, for one, can't wait to watch more of his works including the legendary "Tokyo Story"!

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