The second of Ozu's 'Noriko' trilogy explores the tensions within a seemingly happy family as they interfere in the life of the 28 year-old daughter.
Three generations of the Mamiya family live together in Kanagawa: parents Shukichi and Shige, son Koichi, his wife Fumiko and their two demanding boys, and unmarried Noriko, who works as a secretary in Tokyo.
A visiting uncle chides Noriko about being unmarried at the same time as her boss insists she keep some photos of his unmarried golf partner who is an older business man. Soon everyone in Noriko's orbit, including her unmarried best friend Aya, has an opinion about when she marries.
Noriko had another brother who remains missing-presumed-killed in WWII and when a schoolfriend of his announces he is leaving the area to work in the rural north of Japan, Noriko makes a decision which shocks everyone.
Shelf or charity shop? A keeper as it's one of Ozu's most deceptive films: the film starts almost like a gentle comedy of manners as the Mamiya family en masse decide that Noriko needs a husband but when the shadow of the War dead appears, the film becomes more sombre as the whole family realize that Noriko's marriage will end their cosy life. Setsuko Hara is marvellous as Noriko, who suddenly finds herself subjected to everyone's prying into her life; when she finally breaks towards the end, it is heartbreaking. She is surrounded by excellent performances from the Ozu repertory company: my favourite, Chishu Ryu, plays against type as the authoritarian older brother Koichi, Ichiro Sugai and Chieko Higashiyama are fine as the parents - a role Chieko would perfect two years later in TOKYO STORY - as are Chikage Awashima as Noriko's friend Aya and Haruko Sugimura as the neighbour whose son becomes Noriko's surprise husband. It should also be mentioned that Ozu draws out of his two child actors cheeky and fun performances.
As always, arigato Ozu-san.
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