A Mother Should Be Loved

Early films by Yasujiro Ozu are always interesting for me, and A Mother Should Be Loved (1934) is no exception. It is notable for not having the first and last reel, so it's not a complete film. Also, Ozu's own father, not unlike the the films two protagonists, lost his father during the filming of this story. Ozu has yet to settle on his distinctive style, however, he is already using still-life cutaways that is his hallmark. However, there are several film posters that are seen prominently throughout the film-a notable example is Rain starring Joan Crawford. This film is about two brothers trying to come to terms with the sudden death of their father and their mother's attempts to raise the boys-one of which was the son of the man's previous wife. Overall, it is a minor film in the Ozu oeuvre, but interesting nonetheless.