Late Spring
A quiet drama of profound emotional depth, capturing the bittersweet sorrow of familial duty through the serene, yet heartbreaking, image of a daughter's sacrifice.
Late Spring
Late Spring

晩春

13 September 1949 Japan 108 min ⭐ 8.0 (443)
Director: Yasujirō Ozu
Cast: Chishū Ryū, Setsuko Hara, Yumeji Tsukioka, Haruko Sugimura, Hōhi Aoki
Drama
Familial Duty vs. Personal Happiness Tradition vs. Modernity in Post-War Japan The Passage of Time and Inevitable Change The Nature of Marriage

Late Spring - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

A prominent advertisement for Coca-Cola is visible during the bicycle ride scene.

This is widely interpreted as a symbol of the American occupation and the encroaching Westernization of Japan. Ozu's deliberate placement of the logo is seen by critics as a subtle commentary on the cultural shifts occurring in post-war Japanese society, subtly contrasting with the traditional themes of the film.

A character mentions that the prospective groom looks like the American actor Gary Cooper.

The comparison of a Japanese suitor to a famous American movie star is another nod to the influence of Western, particularly American, culture in post-war Japan. It adds a layer of humor while also grounding the film in a specific historical moment where American pop culture was becoming a reference point.