One Wonderful Sunday

Kurosawa was not known for his work in the shomin-geki genre (everyday tales of ordinary people); that was the realm of Ozu and Naruse. The exception is One Wonderful Sunday, a charming, optimistic social comedy in the vein of Frank Capra (one of Kurosawa’s favourite directors). There are also stylistic elements recalling both Italian neorealism and German Expressionism. In the rubble of postwar Tokyo, Yuzo (Isao Numasaki), a young war veteran and worker, and Masako (Chieko Nakakita), his fiancée, meet to enjoy a free Sunday together. With but 35 yen in spending money between them, they visit a model home, are unable to find cheap seats for a concert, and talk about their dreams of opening a coffee shop together. At one point, Kurosawa unexpectedly breaks the fourth wall and has Masako make a heartfelt plea directly to the audience. The soundtrack makes much use of Schubert. One of the rarities in our Kurosawa Centennial retrospective, the film screens here in a 35mm print provided by The Japan Foundation. “An archaeological find . . . An alternately sweet and desperate romantic drama . . . An essential work in a great career” (Vincent Canby, New York Times). B&W, 16mm, in Japanese with English subtitles. 109 mins.