An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but receive little attention.An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but receive little attention.An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but receive little attention.
- Rinka no saikun
- (as Toyoko Takahashi)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film is notable for its use of the "tatami-mat" shot, in which the camera height is low and remains largely static throughout.
- Goofs(At around 1hr 45 mins) When the children are visiting their mother at home and leave the room to talk with the father in an adjoining room, just as they sit on the floor, the shadow of the boom-mic can be seen to drop into the scene and back out again, just over the son's head on the top right of the screen. This shadow is well into the frame against the edge of what appears to be a bookshelf and should not be considered a masking mistake of the projectionist.
- Quotes
Kyoko: [after the rest of the family had left] I think they should have stayed a bit longer.
Noriko: But they're busy.
Kyoko: They're selfish. Demanding things and leaving like this.
Noriko: They have their own affairs.
Kyoko: But you have yours too. They're selfish.
Noriko: But Kyoko...
Kyoko: Wanting her clothes right after her death. I felt so sorry for poor mother. Even strangers would have been more considerate!
Noriko: But look Kyoko. At your age I thought so too. But children do drift away from their parents. A woman has her own life, apart from her parents, when she becomes Shige's age. She meant no harm I'm sure. They have to look after their own lives.
Kyoko: I wonder: I won't ever be like that. Then what's the point of family?
Noriko: But children become like that, gradually.
Kyoko: Then... you, too?
Noriko: I may become like that in spite of myself.
Kyoko: Isn't life disappointing?
Noriko: Yes, it is.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Tokyo-Ga (1985)
However who is patient gets rewarded. And Ozus way of telling this story is very quiet but effective. The images he produces and the very minimalist camera work creates a rhythm that sucks the viewer in and slowly opens him/her up for the sad but essential ending of this movie.
Ozu never tries to impose his story to the viewer. It looks like he follows his actors very disciplined and calm. This very structured and clear camera-work will alienate many modern moviegoers who are used to much more dynamic images. However lovers of purist cinema and fans of Aki Kaurismaki will probably love it.
Impressing also to see how close the everyday life of Japan in the mid 50s is to the western way of life.
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Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $92,310
- Runtime2 hours 16 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1