Early Summer (1951)

A family chooses a match for their daughter Noriko, but she, surprisingly, has her own plans.

Director:

Yasujirô Ozu

Writers:

Kôgo Noda, Yasujirô Ozu

Stars:

Setsuko Hara, Chishû Ryû, Chikage Awashima

7 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Setsuko Hara	...	Noriko Mamiya
Chishû Ryû	...	Koichi Mamiya
Chikage Awashima	...	Aya Tamura
Kuniko Miyake	...	Fumiko Mamiya
Ichirô Sugai	...	Shukichi Mamiya
Chieko Higashiyama	...	Shige Mamiya
Haruko Sugimura	...	Tami Yabe
Kuniko Igawa	...	Takako
Hiroshi Nihon'yanagi	...	Kenkichi Yabe
Shûji Sano	...	Sotaro Satake
Toyo Takahashi	...	Nobu Tamura (as Toyoko Takahashi)
Seiji Miyaguchi	...	Nishiwaki
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tomoka Hasebe
Kazuyo Itô	...	Mitsuko Yabe
Kokuten Kôdô	...	Old Uncle

Storyline

In postwar Tokyo, this household is loving and serene: older parents, their 28-year-old daughter Noriko, their married son, his devoted wife, and two rascally sons. Their only discontent is Noriko's lack of a husband. Society is changing: she works, she has women friends who tease and argue, her brother sees her independence as impudence, she sees it as normal. When her boss suggests that she marry a 40-year-old bachelor who is his friend, all the members of her family press her to accept. Without seeking their advice, and to their chagrin, Noriko determines her own course of action.

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Plot Keywords:

bachelor | female friendship | cake | tokyo japan | post world war two | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

2 August 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Early Summer

Filming Locations:

Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shôchiku Eiga

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene in which Noriko walks with her sister-in-law, Fumiko, to the beach at Kamakura contains the only crane shot in all the extant films of director Yasujirô Ozu.

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Connections

Follows Late Spring (1949)

User Reviews

Setsuko Hara and Ozu: Perfect Combination

This film stars Setsuko Hara, a regular in Ozu films, who, to me, has to be one of the finest if not the finest actress Japan has ever produced. She exudes warmth in her roles and when she smiles can rightly be considered beautiful. She plays Noriko, a 28 year old single lady her family wants to marry off. If you think you have seen this before in Ozu's "Late Spring", you kind of have, but its still a great film. It is a testament to Ms. Hara's beguiling strength that she can pull off this role so admirably. Unlike "Late Spring" (which is also great), this film is more comic. There are little moments that will make you smile. Noriko's best friend in the film Ayako is also single and they make fun of their married female friends. This movie moves faster than "Late Spring" and the magnificent "Tokyo Story", and it heads towards the end which may fill you with mixed emotions. Ozu, to me, is one of the finest directors ever, from any country. He is a master of subtlety, and the performances he is able to get out of his actors is downright stunning at times. The combination of Ozu and Ms. Hara in film was one of the greatest pairings of actor/director ever. You just love Noriko in this film. The trilogy of "Late Spring", "Early Summer" and "Tokyo Story" is a must watch. I think you'll love it.