Late Autumn by Yasujiro Ozu - 1960

The plot of this movie is almost like a Mozart Opera - so much romantic scheming.

Akiko, who is now middle aged, was once a beautiful young woman pursued by four suitors who were all best friends. Miwa won her hand. After about 20 years, however, Miwa died leaving Akiko a widow with a daughter Ayako.

At the 7th year memorial service for Miwa his three friends decide to find a good man for his daughter to marry. Each friend is a high-ranking businessman who supervises many high quality young men and each of the three friends chooses a possible suitor for Ayako. She likes Mr. Goto.

There's one problem: Ayako does not want to get married because she fears she will have to leave her mother all alone. So, the three men decide they have to find a husband for Akiko too! Since one of the three friends is a widower, they believe he will work out fine.

What happens? Please watch the film.

It's a typical Ozu film - a 'domestic' drama involving real types of people with no violence, no pettiness, and a lot of self-restraint, serenity and humanity.

In his films Ozu seemed interested in the sense of duty felt between family members in Japan - how strong this sense could be, when it might weaken, how it might guide or limit behavior and lives. He also seems to enjoy investigating the compassion of strangers as it can be compared and contrasted with familial duty.