Our Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema series starts off with Late Spring (original Japanese title: Banshun), Yasujirô Ozu’s 1949 masterclass in subtlety and emotional restraint. The story centers on a young woman, Noriko, and her devoted father, exploring themes of duty, change, and the tension between modernity and tradition. With its minimalist camera work and tender performances, Ozu’s film is a cornerstone of Japanese cinema and the perfect introduction to the series.

Late Spring marks a turning point in postwar Japanese cinema, where filmmakers like Ozu began using film not only to entertain but to reflect and shape the nation’s healing process. It’s a time capsule, a cultural mirror, and a foundational text in the Japanese cinematic canon.

Arthouse 101: Japanese Cinema is a curated 12-film trip through the evolution of Japan—from the quiet post-war resilience of the 1940s all the way to the radical reinventions of the 1990s. Each Monday this July-September, we will explore a new facet of this incredible nation’s cinematic journey throughout the 20th century! All films will be presented in their original Japanese language with English subtitles, at a reduced ticket cost of $8.