Late Spring
A tender, formally precise portrait of a daughter's devotion confronting the quiet social inevitability of marriage.
Overview
A poignant exploration of familial bonds and societal expectations in post-war Japan.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- serene
- wistful
- melancholic
- quiet evening
- reflective afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a masterful, deeply affecting example of Ozu's restrained domestic cinema, praised for its formal precision and emotional subtlety.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ozu uses low camera placement, composed interiors, and measured stillness to observe Noriko and her father.
Noriko's aunt, friend, and father all attempt to persuade her to marry despite her contentment at home.
Noriko's devotion to her widowed father conflicts with the social expectation that she establish an independent married life.
The marriage question reflects shifting expectations for women and families in postwar Japan.
Films like Late Spring, and why
Tokyo Story
shared postwar family drama, quiet emotional restraint, and close examination of changing social roles
An Autumn Afternoon
shared ozu-style domestic observation, generational tension, and bittersweet transitions
A Story from Chikamatsu
shared black-and-white japanese family drama, marriage expectations, and understated melancholy
Movie Details
- Director
- Yasujirō Ozu
- Release Date
- 1949-09-13
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (496)
Cast
- Chishū Ryū
- Setsuko Hara
- Yumeji Tsukioka
- Haruko Sugimura
- Hōhi Aoki
- Jun Usami
- Kuniko Miyake
- Masao Mishima
- Yoshiko Tsubouchi
- Yōko Katsuragi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Late Spring about?
- A tender, formally precise portrait of a daughter's devotion confronting the quiet social inevitability of marriage.
- What is Late Spring like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Late Spring as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Late Spring violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Late Spring.
- What did critics think of Late Spring?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a masterful, deeply affecting example of Ozu's restrained domestic cinema, praised for its formal precision and emotional subtlety.
- Which films are like Late Spring?
- Films with a similar feel include Tokyo Story, An Autumn Afternoon, and A Story from Chikamatsu.
- How long is Late Spring?
- Late Spring runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Late Spring?
- In United States, Late Spring streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
