Quite possibly the most widely celebrated actress in the history of japanese cinema, the elegant setsuko hara made her screen debut at the age of 15, when she appeared in dont hesitate, young folks, a 1935 film produced by. In the novel, she said, ozu had a platonic relationship with his favorite leading actress, setsuko hara. Ozu hara ozu and setsuko hara by donald richie the actress. Amazons choice for setsuko hara eclipse series 3 late ozu.
Setsuko hara, a japanese actress known best in the united states for her roles in yasujiro ozus films late spring and tokyo story, has died, according to multiple news sources. No one can communicate so much with a single, subtle. Dec 03, 2015 a few quick notes on the late hara setsuko, but first a little context. This past sunday, the new york times reported the death of japanese actress setsuko hara. Setsuko hara actors and actresses films as actress. Jul 20, 2016 this past sunday, the new york times reported the death of japanese actress setsuko hara. For 20 years after wwii, she defined contemporary femininity for japanese audiences, first playing young, unmarried women, then wives, then mothers. Hara went onto lead a secluded life away from the public eye in kamakura, the small city in which several of her films with ozu were made. The attraction of angloamerican writers to japan as the source of an alternate way of being is a long story, going back to the 19th century. In it, she plays a purehearted japanese maiden who attempts unsuccessfully. Setsuko hara june 17, 1920 september 5, 2015 was a japanese actress mostly known for being one of ozus. Three of japans most internationally renowned filmmakers got the lions share of the talent. The tagline for this book is next to the beauty, there was a monster, insinuating questionable relationship between hara and her brotherinlaw, hisatora kumagai. Setsuko hara is my favorite film actoractress, ever.
Early spring tokyo twilight equinox flower late autumn the end of summer 4. Setsuko hara, a japanese actress who achieved international stardom and critical acclaim after world war ii through her collaborations with directors such as akira kurosawa and yasujiro ozu, only. Shes the kind of performer like setsuko hara, the japanese actress to whom the film is dedicated you cant take your eyes off. The surreal premise, taken from a novel by the sciencefiction writer. The entirely black clad femme fatale taeko nastasya filippovna in the original dostoyevsky novel is the object of their rivalry, and is played here by the legendary japanese actress setsuko hara, still alive as of 2015, in a completely different register from the characters she played in the films of yasujiro ozu. Kurosawa tried to balance his message with his entertainment, and this film is heavier on the message than his later works, but it still shows his style and flare, and is completely enjoyable. This is best shown through kurosawas use of one of his formal obsessionsrepetitionin two scenes of serial movement. To some extent, reality mirrored her roles in these films. Quite possibly the most widely celebrated actress in the history of japanese cinema, the elegant setsuko hara made her screen debut at the age of 15, when she appeared in dont hesitate, young folks, a 1935 film produced by nikkatsu.
Setsuko hara bestknown for ozus tokyo story, the actress had been a recluse for more than four decades. Hara in late spring is the greatest performance ive ever seen. When actress setsuko hara retired in 1963, she disappointed her fans and further deepened her allure as the eternal virgin, a nickname she was lovingly given when her acting career was at its peak. Her signature character type, variations on a daughter devoted to her parents and home, inspired the nickname that stayed with her until retirement. During her 28year career at the world bank, setsuko simultaneously pursued formal art education at the corcoran school of art and design in washington, d. However, it is interesting to put this image up against the role she played years earlier for akira kurosawa in no regrets for our youth. The more likable millennium actress also takes a pop star as its subject. Oct 29, 2010 i have always had an ambivalent relationship with setsuko hara and her performance style, with the ambiguous observation made by ozu as to her technical ability every japanese actress can play the role of a prostitute to some extent.
A subforum to discuss film culture and criticism both old and new, as well as memorializing public figures weve lost. Setsuko ono was born in tokyo and grew up between japan, europe, and the united states. Hara was lauded for her portrayal of tragic heroines torn between duty and desire. Setsuko hara died of pneumonia on september 5, 2015, although her death was not announced to the public until late november. O f course, the main problem with a list of the best setsuko hara movies is the fact that you could very well wind up with a list of. Especially this new book, titled all about setsuko hara, is full of hearsay and rumors. She is mostly known throughout the world for being a leading figure of the. Nov 17, 2012 especially this new book, titled all about setsuko hara, is full of hearsay and rumors.
Nov 26, 2015 setsuko hara was given a role, namely to show the morality of the japanese people in movies in a devastated japan shortly after the end of world war ii, shinoda said. In memoriam setsuko hara, the muse of yasujiro ozu. She died back in september, but her family only just released the information. Chisu ryu, the grandfather in tokyo story, and setsuko hara, who played the widowed. I have always had an ambivalent relationship with setsuko hara and her performance style, with the ambiguous observation made by ozu as to her technical ability every japanese actress can play the role of a prostitute to some extent. Nov 28, 2015 setsuko hara, center, in tokyo story 1953, directed by yasujiro ozu, with whom she had a 12year collaboration. Haras portrayal of noriko her role in three ozu films, which critic robin wood has identified as a loose trilogy built around her finally stands as one of the great portraits of human generosity and selflessness in world cinema. Autumn light season of fire and farewells by pico iyer. Setsuko hara biography, movie highlights and photos. From wiki pedia a famous japanese actress who appeared in many of yasujiro ozus films, most notably as noriko in the noriko trilogy late spring, early summer, and tokyo. Setsuko hara celebrity profile check out the latest setsuko hara photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Pico iyer reflects on a quartercentury of life in japan the new.
Yukie is depicted first as an irregular presence in the music scenes in which she. The actresses of japanese cinemas golden age were quite a company of heartbreakers. Setsuko hara was the star of my absolute favorite mikio naruse film, repast, which is up on hulu plus if anyone wants to see some of her work outside of ozu. Setsuko hara, japanese star of films by ozu and kurosawa, is. Abomb survivor setsuko thurlow issues call for action in speech at alma mater in canada. Her relatively brief career spanned close to three decades, during which time she made more than seventy feature. Setsuko hara became one of japans bestloved stars over her 30year film career. Nov 25, 2015 setsuko hara bestknown for ozus tokyo story, the actress had been a recluse for more than four decades. Setsuko hara with chieko higashiyama in tokyo story, 1953, the third in ozus noriko trilogy. No regrets for our youth proposes another setsuko haraa woman who is not in a state of equilibrium, and not much in control of herself. Ozu hara ozu and setsuko hara by donald richie the. Were always hearing about the ends of eras, but the recent death of the. The second in a series of profiles of the great actresses spotlighted in this seasons flagship tiff cinematheque programme summer in japan. In 2005, roger ebert wrote that hara was a great star.
Setsuko hara was given a role, namely to show the morality of the japanese people in movies in a devastated japan shortly after the end of world war ii, shinoda said. The titles of the articles sound like something from 1940s tabloid journals. Setusuko hara is an actress with no equivalent in western film. If only the same were true for female characters in american films. Setsuko aihara is the author of strategies for reading japanese 3. Setsuko hara, center, in tokyo story 1953, directed by yasujiro ozu, with whom she had a 12year collaboration. Setsuko hara, masae aida, japanese actress born june 17, 1920, yokohama, japandied sept. Setsuko hara as noriko somiya in yasujiro ozus late spring, 1949. Join facebook to connect with setsuko hara and others you may know.
In the new earth 1937, a japanesegerman collaboration, she played the. How american intellectuals learned to love ozu the. Hara began acting at 15 and retired from film in the early 1960s. Setsuko hara active 1936 1963 born jun 17, 1920 died sep 5, 2015 genres drama overview v. His assistant director takahashi wrote a novel about ozu, but people. Atomic bombing survivor and peace advocate setsuko thurlow called for action for the. Dec 15, 2015 setsuko hara as noriko somiya in yasujiro ozus late spring, 1949. A japan society film series looks at the careers of shirley yamaguchi and setsuko hara, including their work in films supporting japans war. Ozu and setsuko hara by donald richie born in 1920, hara was introduced to the nikkatsu film studios by her brotherinlaw, the director hisatora kumagai, in 1935, but she became popular only after having been chosen by arnold fanck to star in the germanjapanese coproduction the new earth 1937. Her husband is plain but dependable, and her friends tell her how lucky she is, when all she can see is how boring her marriage is.
The sisterinlaw of director histora kumagi, she made her inaugural film appearance in the japanesegerman the samurais daughter 1937. Setsuko hara, the luminous japanese movie star of the 1940s and 50s, has died. Setsuko hara biography, movie highlights and photos allmovie. Setsuko haras noriko is a model of filial piety and rectitude, an impoverished widow who takes a day off work to take her parentsinlaw sightseeing and scrounges a celebratory meal with sake borrowed from a neighbor. Nov 25, 2015 setsuko hara, a japanese actress who achieved international stardom and critical acclaim after world war ii through her collaborations with directors such as akira kurosawa and yasujiro ozu, only. Every japanese actress can play the role of a prostitute to some extent. Were always hearing about the ends of eras, but the recent death of the great actress setsuko hara really is the end of an erathe era of the classic japanese film, of the directors mizoguchi, ozu, naruse, kurosawa, and kinoshita to name only the bestknown here in america, and of the periods. From wiki pedia a famous japanese actress who appeared in many of yasujiro ozus films, most notably as noriko in the noriko. Jul 26, 2018 the second in a series of profiles of the great actresses spotlighted in this seasons flagship tiff cinematheque programme summer in japan. In all her roles, she was a vital, central character, never an adjunct to a male star. See more ideas about japanese film, yasujiro ozu and tokyo story. Setsuko hara, the muse of yasujiro ozu as well as other directors of japanese cinema in the 1950s and 60s, died on sept.
No regrets for our youth is a political film, a feminist film, and a film of high ideals. The focus is a retired movie actress named chiyoko fujiwara perhaps inspired by the revered setsuko hara, who. For anyone who might not be too familiar with her work, i recommend watching ozus late spring. Im already using a lot of superlatives in this post so why not go all the way.
After six masterpieces together, it is hard not to think of actress setsuko hara as yasujiro ozus embodiment of the postwar japanese woman. Were always hearing about the ends of eras, but the recent death of the great actress setsuko hara really is the end of an erathe era of the classic japanese film, of the directors mizoguchi, ozu, naruse, kurosawa, and kinoshita to name only the bestknown here in america, and of the periods dominant actresses. Beautifully acted throughout, especially by setsuko hara as the mother, and yoko tsukasa. Setsuko aihara translator of the selfovercoming of nihilism. In the west, she is best known for her performances in yasujiro ozus films late spring 1949 and tokyo story 1953, although she had already.
In the west, she is best known for her performances in yasujiro ozus films late spring 1949 and tokyo story 1953, although she had already appeared in 67 films before working with ozu. Fujiwara perhaps inspired by the revered setsuko hara, who played a. Japanese screen legend setsuko hara, most famous for her role in yasujiro ozus classic. She was best known for her collaboration with director yasujiro ozu, for whom she starred in six. Muse of yasujuro ozu who rose to fame in the 1930s and 40s was a key face of japans postwar cinematic revival. Nov 25, 2015 setsuko hara with chieko higashiyama in tokyo story, 1953, the third in ozus noriko trilogy. Apr 22, 2019 autumn light season of fire and farewells by pico iyer. Ozu captured setsuko hara in certain recurrent images.