Actors: Daisuke Kato, Haruko Sugimura
Director: Yasujiro Ozu
There will never be another Ozu. Early Spring details a young Japanese salaryman and his wife, his relationship to their friends, and possible marital troubles. It's stunningly banal in its treatment of its subjects - the men do office grunt work by day and indulge in rudimentary pastimes at night. They visit their relatives. They complain about commutes. No one's making a film like this - sure, there are directors who deal with these subjects, but not in the matter-of-fact way this movie does. And honestly, why would any Japanese salaryman or his wife want to watch this film? It's almost like it's for us in today's 'I-need-my-cellphone-and-TV' times - showing us the minutia of a way of life that no longer exists.
Ozu manages some brilliantly composed shots along the way - his plots seem to match up so well with his shooting style. The camera is unwavering (although there are actually several pan shots), but if you really look at some of the scenes, there's something incredible going on.
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