The Only Son Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: The Only Son
Director: Yasujiro Uzo
Year: 1936
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese 

Is it odd that until a few days ago I had not seen a film by Yasujiro Ozu, regarded as one of the greatest Directors of all  time by fans and critics alike? I have always wanted to see Late Spring, but I though it would be too heavy to watch as a first film. Therefore I chose The Only Son, mainly because of the short length and the intriguing plot. I wasn't sure what to expect, frankly I thought it would get boring, however I found myself glue to the screen and inspired by this incredible melodrama.

The film takes place In 1923, in the province of Shinshu, the widow and simple worker of a silk factory Tsune Nonomiya (O-Tsune) decides to send her only son to Tokyo for having a better education. Thirteen years later, she visits her son Ryosuke Nonomiya (Shinichi Himori), and finds that he is a poor and frustrated night-school teacher with a wife, Sugiko (Yoshiko Tsubouchi), and a baby boy/

Can we call this a "melodrama"? Perhaps not in the American sense, as so many Hollywood films are so exaggerated in emotion that rhey seem cheesy, poorly acted andor campy. Ozu is in a league of his own in terms of melodrama, a director that didn't force certain emotion or ridiculous plots. His universe is of emotional honesty and relate able characters who transcend the confines of their situation and become metaphors for life iself. When it comes to family relationships, Ozu surely knows his stuff.

This film was clearly made with great talent and skill. Ozu manages to explore the human condition better than many modern day filmmakers. His directing suggests that he has a sympathetic nature, his camera often discloses  immaculately ordered shots to the viewer, often at eye level. His films seemed to explore the uncertainty of the future of Japanese people as his society grew increasingly militaristic (just one year later Japan attacked Chine, a decade later Japan would lose thee war via nuke). This film also reflected about what "success" actually meant.

In conclusion, The Only Son, is a film you may need to bring kleenex to. Heartbreaking and historically important, it's a swift punch to the gut. I will definitley watch this film after reading more about the tumultuous history of pre-war Japan. This is melodrama in a way that you have not seen before. Ozu not only demands your respect, but also his admiration. This is definitley the first of the many films of his that I will see. Praise it! 4.5/5