Although we have here a movie dated 1941 and whose action takes probably place in late thirties of last century, surely a Japanese viewer watches this movie from a somewhat different viewpoint of a western viewer. While to the former every behaviour, dialogue, situation and usages shown appear quite normal and he will fix his attention only to the properly so called filmic aspects the latter will, beyond these aspects, be impressed by the on his view uncommon ones. We are nevertheless before a movie that shows something that is common to any culture: the family conflicts. Which in such a case are produced by the death of the old father and the consequent removal of the widowed mother accompanied by her single daughter to the homes (by turn) of a married son and a married daughter who live well off in Tokyo. She is not at her ease there being a snag somehow mainly to her daughter-in- law. There is also a single son who emigrated to China but shows consideration, respect and affection for his mother which leads him to disapprove and scold his other siblings' behaviour when once he comes back. He finishes by proposing his mother and single sister to take then to China with him. Everything is shown in the movie through natural images, scenes and dialogues full of authenticity and sensitiveness which is stressed by the gentle and restrained behaviour of the characters (with the usual constant smiles and bows of the Japanese) in scenes that are never dramatic but not less revealing of thoughts and sentiments. Yasujiro Ozu shows himself once more as a master in what concerns movies dealing with family relations and way of living.
