Early Spring

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william d Not one of Ozu's best, but still worth watching. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Yasujirô Ozu offers a negative view of the salaryman's life in 1950s Tokyo, following a young man (Ryô Ikebe) who is stuck in a daily routine with little promise of change. Even his mentors remark "I hate my job" (Chishû Ryû, whose character has been transferred to distant Lake Biwa) or quit to run a coffee shop instead (Sô Yamamura). His peers mostly distract themselves with mah-jong in the evenings and outings on the weekends and gossip about each other. Most are married, as is Ikebe's character, but he seems to be going through the routine at home too. His wife (Chikage Awashima) is unsatisfied too and spends most of her time confiding in her mother or best friend, who offer different responses. When Ikebe is targeted romantically by a flirtatious woman in his circle, nicknamed Goldfish (Keiko Kishi), he gives in and then regrets it. However, it is impossible to hide from his wife. Then each character reflects on how this affects the marriage. Although atypically glum for Ozu, who usually keeps a moderate level of existential awe in even his saddest features (e.g., Tokyo Story, 1953), the film remains as absorbing as all of his best work. Somehow the characters draw you in with their complex feelings and predicaments - as usual, they speak directly to the camera while Ozu uses unusual shot-reverse shot configurations during conversations. This might heighten our involvement psychologically. Or perhaps it is Ozu's focus on family relationships and the predicaments of the lower and middle class (typical of the shomin-geki genre) that makes his films feel relevant. Finally, even if you don't feel sympathy for the central protagonist, Ozu's expertise is such that he makes you feel the humanity of the situation from every perspective and allows us hope for the future. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty good...not a wildly exciting topic, though. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Early Spring (1956) aka Shoshun This was my second Yasujiro Ozu movie that I've ever seen and was quite impressed with it. The TV listings got this film mixed up with his earlier "Late Spring" (1949). Yasujiro Ozu names a lot of his films after seasons, so I can see why the confusion. This film is about a young couple who are having marital problems, and dealing with the loss of a child, as well as being a war veteran and salaryman. Although it deals with infidelity, it is really kind of nobody's fault, and everyone's fault, but needs to be dealt with. I thought that it was interesting how most every character in the film was unhappy with their lives and were envious of the other person's life. The Salaryman and the men who owns their own business envied each other, while the single woman admires the married woman and visa-versa, etc. It is a well-made film that sort of meanders about to its conclusion. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member For me, a little lacking in the masterpiece department. Outstanding performances all around but tied to a lesser story than is typical for Ozu. Still a family drama, but perhaps a bit tawdry? I still have a feeling my rating will go up on subsequent viewings. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Once again Ozu slowly builds to a complex and emotionally satisfying conclusion, using a simple style that highlights relationships in families, the workplace, among friends, and between objects out in the world. The two leads are a bit more opaque than we find in many Ozu films, but that works amid their quietly contentious relationship. The final few scenes play out remarkably well. What a beautiful film. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Early Spring

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