Where Now Are The Dreams Of Youth?

It seems that Yasujiro Ozu's Where Now Are The Dreams Of Youth? (1932) is the last surviving Ozu films available that I hadn't seen. It is somewhat typical of the "college" comedies he was making in the 30s. This film is about a wealthy student Hirano and his friends. They are taking the easy route through college, cheating their way through exams and goofing around outside of school. But, a year before graduation, tragedy strikes as Hirano's father dies and his successful business is passed on to him. The rest of the film looks at how this inexperienced youngster struggles to adjust to adulthood and the pressure of being ‘the boss’ and the effect it has on his friendships and relationships.There's a somewhat off putting scene where Hirano beats his fiend about the face for a full two minutes during an argument.Ozu is developing some of his idiosyncratic signatures in the is film with still life cutaways and trains-in fact the honeymoon train waving from the office rooftop was also seen in a later film, possibly Early Spring (1956). It is minor Ozu, but interesting and entertaining nonetheless.