An Autumn Afternoon
- Ryu Chishu: Hirayama ( employee)
- Iwashita Shima: Michiko Hirayama's daughter
- Keiji Sada: Hirayama's eldest son Koichi
- Shin'ichiro Mikami: Hirayama's second son Kazuo
- Okada Mariko: Woman of Hirayama elders
- Nobuo Nakamura: Hirayama friend Kawai
- Higashino Eijiro: old teacher Sakuma
- Kishida Kyoko: boss of a bar
- And other
An Autumn Afternoon [NB 1] (Japanese秋刀魚 の 味, Samma no aji ) is a Japanese film of the year 1962. It is the last film directed by Yasujirō Ozu. The main roles were played by Ryu Chishu and Iwashita Shima.
Action
Magnificent, smoking chimneys at the beginning to show the economic recovery of Japan, and later show the rare views of the new buildings of the city, how ugly she is. Hirayama, head of department in a company that meets regularly with his classmates. When one of them by chance the old teacher Sakuma meets nicknamed "Pumpkin ", decides to invite him. Enjoying the evening and looks forward after forty years of his students to see again. Here he eats and drinks a bit too much, so that the host drive him home. They are finding that the old man beats with a rolling snack through life, supplied by its older daughter has since become.
The Old Boys collect money that brings about Hirayama. A young guest at the noodle snack recognizes him beaming with joy as his former superior in the war and asks him in his local pub to come along. There, the young man can hang marching music, resulting in one of the most Ozu- scenes, as the young man marched through the bar and the slightly embarrassed Hirayama and bar boss behind the counter ( the Hirayama of his late wife remembers ) the greeting reply. Then, when the young man says, " If we had won the war, we were now in New York," Hirayama replied indulgently: " Good thing we did not win it. "
Through the encounter with the old teacher and his daughter sees Hirayama, that he must be separated from his daughter. Detours - an opportunity was already missed - a matching man is eventually found, it comes to the wedding. When the ceremony ( which is not shown ) is over, Hirayama sitting with his old friends together, walking alone in the bar with the madam, who reminds him of his wife, to have a drink and will hear the marching music. He is dressed Dark asked if he came from a funeral. Yes, he replied that one could say so and can pour whiskey neat. At home, waiting for his son and daughter, and when he finally, not quite sober, appears to promise to visit him occasionally. The younger son, who still lives at home, exhorts the father, the babbling of the humming march to go to bed. Wistfully, he looks at the staircase leading to the now empty room of his daughter. The film ends with the melancholy mood of the father, thoughtfully sitting on the chair.
Background
Most scenes take Ozu- typically as on a stage with a fixed camera position. From time to time there is a view into the environment, accompanied by a decidedly cheerful music. Sometimes it is quiet except for the ringing of the crossing gates which close for the suburban trains. The modest economic situation of the time is documented, but the real issue is the small and large opportunities in the private sphere that are overlooked and missed - and growing old. Smoking chimneys, the old man finally alone - Ozu takes on much of the trip to Tokyo.
The film is, as always, very well staffed with Ozu, to the supporting roles. There is Higashino, who plays the old teachers, but can also occur as Mito Komon royally, that is, Tokugawa Mitsukuni in a television series, as well as Sada Hirayama elder or Kishida, here as head of the bar