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Record of a Tenement Gentleman

Play trailer Poster for Record of a Tenement Gentleman 1947 1h 12m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A widow (Choko Iida) in postwar Japan begrudgingly adopts an abandoned boy (Hohi Aoki) whom she grows to love.

Critics Reviews

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Tim Purtell Entertainment Weekly 03/04/2013
B
[The film] may be slow-moving by Hollywood standards, but Record of a Tenement Gentleman rewards patience with rich sentiment that's never mawkish. Go to Full Review
Tom Charity Time Out 02/09/2006
This is Ozu in optimistic mood, which is not to say that loss and resignation don't figure in large part (no film-maker ever had a surer grasp of the melancholy of everyday things), just that here the generosity of spirit seems irresistible. Go to Full Review
Joan Mellen New York Times 05/21/2005
Curtain after curtain is lifted as this formidable film exposes a Japan unknown to most. Go to Full Review
Randy Meeks Espinof 12/19/2023
4/5
The portrait of a person who, when they least expected it, was happy during a small space in time. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television 12/03/2016
Gently moving account of a lost little boy and the people he meets shows Ozu's visual creativity. Go to Full Review
David Parkinson Radio Times 08/12/2014
4/5
Cleverly using camera angles to create a sense of place and parallel motifs to unify the action, Ozu reveals his directorial genius, which is confirmed by his light handling of his splendid ensemble cast. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Mikey H 07/28/2023 The fact that I consider this film "average Ozu" is just a testament to his greatness. Incredible piece of film. See more Shadowivy H 04/19/2023 An extraordinary family film. Heartfelt as well as entertaining from beginning to end. The dialogue was quirky and funny with many memorable moments . The parent and child dynamic grows as the story progresses into more than a simple foundling and foster mother relationship. A lonely widow who appears to be content leading an independent life learns the value of sharing her sorrows and joys with a lost boy. I especially loved how their bond developed over time. Weather you prefer comedy or drama this movie provides a little of everything all rolled into one. A true masterpiece must see . See more william d @acsdoug 11/16/2022 An absolutely charming film. Choko Iida is terrific, she made me chuckle throughout the movie. See more 05/13/2016 An elegant little drama told with a precise comedic voice, this is just another example of Ozu's propensity for wonderfully small films about the Japanese experience. The stillness of each perfectly composed frame makes you marvel at each shots simple beauty. But even with its seemingly cold feel, it has a ton of human warmth, studying how love can grow in the most unlikely of places and ways, all the while avoiding cloy. See more s r @ScottR 12/01/2014 A simple and touching drama about caring for the orphaned. Great music and cinematography. See more 04/12/2012 Beautiful comic drama from a director who could little wrong. See more Read all reviews
Record of a Tenement Gentleman

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Movie Info

Synopsis A widow (Choko Iida) in postwar Japan begrudgingly adopts an abandoned boy (Hohi Aoki) whom she grows to love.
Director
Yasujirô Ozu
Screenwriter
Yasujirô Ozu, Tadao Ikeda
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Production Co
Shochiku Films
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
May 20, 1947, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1977
Runtime
1h 12m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)