Blu-ray Review: Criterion Edition of Ozu’s Timeless ‘Late Spring’

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CHICAGO – Two of the best things about the Criterion release of Yasujiro Ozu’s “Late Spring” happen to be proof of why the film and its director have become so important to so many film historians — appreciations from two talented people influences by the moving work, now available on Criterion Blu-ray and re-released Criterion DVD. Critic Michael Atkinson writes a beautiful essay in the booklet and the great director Wim Wenders (“Wings of Desire”) provides a fantastic documentary from 1985, “Tokyo-ga.” about the director. Both are reason enough to buy the movie.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
Blu-ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Atkinson makes a compelling case as to why Ozu has survived much more than most of his peers in the history of Japanese cinema. There’s something so simple about Ozu’s work, it touches a note of humanity without pretension that is both timeless and universal. Read the essay, then watch the movie, and then watch “Tokyo-ga” to see how one filmmaker can influence another so many years later. This isn’t the most instantly compelling Criterion release of the season but with its focus on just a few essential special features it’s a simple beauty for Ozu fans. They wouldn’t have it any other way.

Late Spring was released on Criterion Blu-ray and re-released on Criterion DVD on April 27, 2012.
Late Spring was released on Criterion Blu-ray and re-released on Criterion DVD on April 27, 2012.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Synopsis:
One of the most powerful of Yasujiro Ozu’s family portraits, Late Spring (Banshun) tells the story of a widowed father who feels compelled to marry off his beloved only daughter. Loyal Ozu players Chishu Ryu and Setsuko Hara command this poignant tale of love and loss in postwar Japan, which remains as potent today as ever - almost by itself justifying Ozu’s inclusion in the pantheon of cinema’s greatest directors.

Special Features:
o Audio Commentary By Richard Pena, Program Director Of New York’s Film Society Of Lincoln Center
o Tokyo-ga (1985) - Filmmaker Wim Wenders’s Ninety-Two Minute Documentary About Director Yasujiro Ozu
o Booklet Featuring Essays By Critic Michael Atkinson And Japanese-Film Historian Donald Richie, As Well As Ozu’s Thought On Screenwriter Kogo Noda

“Late Spring” stars Chishu Ryu and Setsuko Hara and was directed by Yasujiro Ozu. It was released on Criterion blu-ray and re-released on Criterion DVD on April 17, 2012.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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