Late Spring

Often considered Yasujiro Ozu’s postwar masterpiece, the film also cemented Setsuko Hara’s reputation as the “eternal virgin.” Here she plays the daughter of a widower who is intent on marrying her away as soon as possible. Late Spring was produced midway through the U.S. Occupation, and as such it had to toe certain lines. For example, its treatment of an essentially arranged marriage had to be finessed, and a reference to the rubble of Tokyo is reduced to a reference of its dustiness. Hara also appeared in Ozu’s 1960 Late Autumn, a remake of Late Spring where she takes the place of the father. It was mainly through these collaborations with Ozu that Hara cleansed her wartime record and presented herself as a paragon of democratization.

1949, 108 min., 35mm, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Yasujiro Ozu. With Setsuko Hara, Chishu Ryu, Yumeji Tsukioka, Haruko Sugimura, Hohi Aoki.

Tickets:
$12/$9 Japan Society members, seniors & students
 
SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase tickets for at least 3 different films and receive $2 off each ticket when purchased together! Special offer available only Japan Society Box Office or by telephone at (212) 715-1258. Offer not available online.

Part of the 2015 Globus Film Series The Most Beautiful: The War Films of Shirley Yamaguchi & Setsuko Hara.

Stories from the War
Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, Japan Society presents the Society-wide series Stories from the War. Encompassing theater performances, film screenings, lectures, panels and educational opportunities for young people, programming from January to August explores history and considers challenging issues that the U.S. and Japan faced surrounding WWII through a contemporary lens.