Japanese films that make their way across the Pacific can generally be grouped into three main categories. There are, of course, the science fiction and horror films including everything from Godzilla to the Ring. There are the samurai epics of Akira Kurosawa. Lastly there are the animated movies which have a rabid fanbase like few other genres.

Yet Japan has many more films than those typically shown over here. One of Japan's most famous directors, Yasujiro Ozu, is relatively unknown here in America outside of the true film buffs and Japanophiles. His films are subtle, understated and gentle yet they convey a slice of life that sadly most Americans would consider dull. Exhibit A is a little film called Late Autumn and is two hours of the everyday problems of an arranged marriage in 1960.

The film opens at the memorial service for a man who passed several years ago. His three closest friends meet up and decide that the daughter of the deceased is just the right age to think about marriage. They then set to arrange a marriage for her and then later for her young widowed mother. Despite their best intentions both women seem to be content as to where they are in life.

If there was one word to describe Late Autumn it would be subtle. Nothing seems overdone. There is almost no comedy or tragedy and we just seem to be getting a quick snapshot into the lives of some average people. Even the color pallate of the film is subtle with its muted colors and earth tones.

This brings me to my next point about the film, the fashion. Now I am far from fashionable and I would make the snobs on What Not to Wear weap and yet I found myself really appreciating the outfits of the young people in the film. While I could certainly get away with wearing any of the suits worn by the male characters, I have a feeling many of my female friends might turn their noses at the rather conservative but fitting dresses of the young ladies in the film. Still, one never knows and that look may come back.

The DVD release by Panorama was a bit subpar. Many lines were not subtitled and many that were had misspellings, grammatical errors and just clumsy translations. I guess being that it was a Region 3 DVD release from Hong Kong, I cannot complain too much. I bought this film years ago and now there is apparently a Criterion Collection release which, I have no doubt, rectifies all these errors.

All in all, Late Autumn is certainly worth watching. It's not a groundbreaking or lifechanging film but it certainly is a worthwhile way to spend two hours if you have any interest in Japanese films or culture.

Labels: 31 days of film, Classics, Japanese