There Was a Father

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william d I wouldn't say it's one of Ozu's better films, but it's still worth watching. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Yasujirô Ozuâ(TM)s wartime portrait of a single dadâ(TM)s self-sacrifice was likely exactly what the country wanted in order to spur young men to the call of duty. His favourite actor, Chishû Ryû, plays the widower schoolteacher who sends his only son away to the best schools (thereby living alone without the comforts of family) to offer him the best opportunity for the future. However, it is possible to question whether Ozu felt uniformly positive about such decisions. Early in the film Horikawa (Ryû) gives up teaching because of a tragedy that happened under his watch, but this may have deprived a generation of students from a good teacher (later, he scolds his own son, who has grown up to become a teacher, when he also thinks about leaving the profession). Moreover, as Tony Rayns points out, it is not too difficult to imagine the fatherâ(TM)s dying words echoing the sentiments of Setsuko Hara (in Tokyo Story, 1953) about life being essentially disappointing; instead he claims to be satisfied that his son has turned out to be a good person and that he has found him a wife to support him. Of course, it is possible to be disappointed for oneself and satisfied for others at the same time and this may be what is/was required in Japan (although the disappointment must be accepted if it is even acknowledged). So, the film has a tinge of ambivalence about it and this is reinforced by Ozuâ(TM)s trademark âstill lifeâ? scenes that punctuate the filmâ(TM)s major sequences. Often, these are stone lanterns or the beautiful countryside locales where the early portions of the film (and later ryokan scenes) take place. During these moments, one reflects. Naturally, I thought of my own dad and the things he did/does for me, even after my parents divorced and even after I moved far away (as the son in the film does). I also thought of myself as a dad and questioned whether I am doing enough for my two sons. Ultimately, the wartime context could be completely ignored (and indeed the war is barely mentioned in the film, perhaps partly due to US censors) and the film would still be humane and transcendent as much of Ozuâ(TM)s oeuvre was. Worth seeking out. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member A spinning factory, a hospital room that held up to the knees of Shin Saburi, and an inn that caught up to the room facing the next room in front. It is the supreme beauty of the vertical composition made possible by standard size. Shuji Sano's back looking up, a fishing rod that can be repeatedly thrown in regular order, ... It is a masterpiece of a movie, which is doing what it can do like a line of Syukichi's speech. To do as much as you can do is not a common thing. When you see the connection through the sound added from the outside of the screen and the landscape like the still picture to be inserted, it is strongly noticeable that the movie is completed with stunning omissions. In the scene where Shuji Sano sang Der Kongreß tanzt's Das gibt's nur einmal, Tishu Ryu's intense seizure scene, Mitsuko Mito cried suddenly, I was stuffy. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member While its not Ozu's best work, it is still a touching film that was well-made. The political propaganda and the quality of the film because of the war were two aspects that hinder the movie. It is still a solid movie. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member another graceful beauty from director Ozu Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Chishu Ryu gives it his all, and the film's final act is strong, but it meanders too much for me to appreciate it as the masterpiece I've read it is. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews

There Was a Father

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