Having been almost two years since the release of "Early Summer," the Criterion Collection finally offers up the release of another title from Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu: "Late Spring." After having shown much love to Akira Kurosawa and Seijun Suzuki (14 and 6 releases respectively), this marks the fifth title from Ozu and perhaps a sign of more to come. \n"Late Spring" marks the beginning of Ozu's "seasonal" cycle of films and tells the story of Shukichi Somiya (Chishu Ryu) and his daughter Noriko (Setsuko Hara in her first Ozu appearance) who live a quiet life together in post-WWII Japan. Noriko cares for her father dearly, making it known that without her, he would forget many of the daily necessities. With so many people already married or engaged, Shukichi becomes concerned with his 27-year-old daughter who is still unwed, making it a point to find her a suitor. Noriko, however, has no interest in marriage, let alone an arranged one, and would rather spend her days helping dad. \nIt all sounds rather simple and truthfully it is. What makes the work of Ozu so accessible is the crystal clarity worked into his stories. They all deal with family -- something every person has in their life to an extent -- and through that we all can relate somehow. There are no pretentious gusts to avoid in "Late Spring" but rather a cool breeze that calms us.\nFor being her first collaboration with Ozu, the presence of Setsuko Hara is evident from the start. Almost always smiling, Hara's face has the effect on Japanese films that the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo had on cinema itself. \nMeticulously remastered, Criterion gives this important release the usual two-disc treatment. Disc 1 has the film complemented with an excellent commentary from Richard Peña, director of the New York Film Society. There are also essays from critic Michael Atkinson on Ozu's work and historian Donald Ritchie, the latter explaining the wonderful relationship between Hara and Ozu through their films together. \nOpening with the first scenes from Ozu's "Tokyo Story," German auteur Wim Wenders' "Tokyo-Ga" documentary captures the quest of a director in search of the Tokyo found in so many of Ozu's films. It is a wonderful work of artistic filmmaking, observing a very modern Japan intercut with interviews from Chishu Ryu and fellow German director Werner Herzog. It is a film that is very deserving of its own release, but is a great companion piece found in this DVD set. \nAs the back cover reads, "'Late Spring' alone justifies Ozu's inclusion in the pantheon of cinema's greatest directors." I couldn't agree with this statement more.
--Chris Wisner
