The children of patriarch Mikuni gather together to celebrate the first anniversary of their mother’s death. Tetsuya, who works as a barman Tokyo, quarrels with his father about his lifestyle.
Ozu has always been a source of inspiration for Yamada, who directed a contemporary take on Tokyo Story in 2013. However, the characters in his films are often from a much lower social class that those in Ozu’s films. This changes many things, and Yamada’s filmography reflects a very different Japan. The lack of depth criticised by some is surely offset by the breadth of vision with which he portrays his contemporaries. JB
