A very untypical Kurosawa film (at least seen from a future perspective), but very typical of the period - almost all the great Japanese directors tried to make movies immediately after the war which explicitly tried to address the poverty and hopelessness of the time, but to look forward with something like optimism - Ozu's Record of a Tenement Gentleman and Mizoguchi's Lady of Musashino come to mind.
The film takes place on a typical Sunday in the life of a young couple, who work such long hours they can only spend one day a week together. They are poverty stricken, with little hope for the future. Both are upbeat characters, but the man is slowly succumbing to depression and despair despite the frantic efforts of his girlfriend to help him. The film gloriously follows them through the ups and downs of their days, as they survive increasing humiliations at the hands of the rich and the corrupt. All they have is their love and their dignity. It is all shot with Kurosawa's familiar genius for camera-work and editing, and complemented by great performances.
The ending - where famously the actress begs the audience to clap in support - divides everyone. Many find it manipulative and sentimental. Personally, I cried my eyes out. Just go see it and make your own mind up.
The film takes place on a typical Sunday in the life of a young couple, who work such long hours they can only spend one day a week together. They are poverty stricken, with little hope for the future. Both are upbeat characters, but the man is slowly succumbing to depression and despair despite the frantic efforts of his girlfriend to help him. The film gloriously follows them through the ups and downs of their days, as they survive increasing humiliations at the hands of the rich and the corrupt. All they have is their love and their dignity. It is all shot with Kurosawa's familiar genius for camera-work and editing, and complemented by great performances.
The ending - where famously the actress begs the audience to clap in support - divides everyone. Many find it manipulative and sentimental. Personally, I cried my eyes out. Just go see it and make your own mind up.