The strong story and interesting relationships between characters overcome a slow pace and some of the issues I have with Ozu's style, and I have to say, this one stuck with me so I rounded up. There is a harmony to the framing of many of Ozu's shots, but he relies too much on his signature low camera angle, which too often doesn't work as well, at least for me (and I know I'm in the minority, apologies Ozu fans). There is real sass to the female characters Otaka and Otoki, but I wasn't wild about the main character hitting them multiple times, and I also smiled over the weak acting in response to it (holding the hand to the face, and yes, shot from kneecap level).
On the other hand, the film finishes strong, including a very touching scene between father and son, mediated by the mother who tells the young man "Just be a great man. That's all he wants. Since you were born, he's been coming here with that one hope in mind." It goes directly to the heart of all parents. The parallel between father and son, with both of them having a charm about them, attracted to actresses, and casting their lines together in a fishing scene, has a symmetry too it, made poignant by his distance over the years, and the train running off into the night at the end. There is real emotional power here.
On the other hand, the film finishes strong, including a very touching scene between father and son, mediated by the mother who tells the young man "Just be a great man. That's all he wants. Since you were born, he's been coming here with that one hope in mind." It goes directly to the heart of all parents. The parallel between father and son, with both of them having a charm about them, attracted to actresses, and casting their lines together in a fishing scene, has a symmetry too it, made poignant by his distance over the years, and the train running off into the night at the end. There is real emotional power here.