+

poster of One Wonderful Sunday
Rating: 7.3/10 by 85 users

One Wonderful Sunday (1947)

Yuzo and his fiancée Masako spend their Sunday afternoon together, trying to have a good time on just thirty-five yen. They manage to have many small adventures, especially because Masako's optimism and belief in dreams is able to lift Yuzo from his realistic despair.

Directing:
  • Akira Kurosawa
  • Zenji Koizumi
Writing:
  • Keinosuke Uekusa
  • Akira Kurosawa
Stars:
Release Date: Tue, Jul 01, 1947

Rating: 7.3/10 by 85 users

Alternative Title:
Subarashiki nichiyōbi - JP
Una meravigliosa domenica - IT
One Wonderful Sunday - US
Великолепное воскресенье - SU

Country:
Japan
Language:
日本語
Runtime: 01 hour 48 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: breaking the fourth wall, tokyo, japan, poverty, fiancé fiancée relationship, post war japan, occupation

Zeko Nakamura
Dessert Shop Owner
Toppa Utsumi
Street Photographer
Ichiro Namiki
Street Photographer
Ichirō Sugai
Black-marketeer
Masao Shimizu
Dance Hall Manager
Tokuji Kobayashi
Overweight apartment receptionist
Midori Ariyama
Sono, the black-marketeer's mistress
Sachio Sakai
Shady Ticket Man
Katao Numazaki
Bakery Owner
Toshi Mori
Apartment Superintendent

CinemaSerf

Shortly after the end of WWII, a young - and pretty broke - couple try to spend their Sunday together. "Yuzo" (Isao Numasaki) comes across more as the half half empty sort of fellow, but his girlfriend "Masako" (Chieko Nakakita) quite the reverse as they realise they have but ¥35 to last them an entire day! This is not a day just for frivolities. The two are determined to find somewhere where they can live together, and their budget (or lack of) sends them into bomb-damaged and less sanitary areas of their city that the they would ever be prepared to consider normally. An encounter with some baseball playing kids; some damaged cakes; a would-be landlord; an ideal new home they could never afford (that looks as if it is made of balsa wood!) and some dancing all work with two really strong and engaging lead performances to create an almost magical illustration of their day together. They fall out, make up, separate; it rains (always seems to in Kurosawa films) and there is a lovely accompaniment from Schubert to help knit the whole thing together. As with so many real relationships, the use of dialogue is sparing and the use of gesture and implied meaning proves especially effective as the love story moves along - at times earnestly, at times humorously. I wouldn't say the characters evolve, nor does their love - it is much the same at the end as it was at the beginning, and that's also quite enjoyable to appreciate. This isn't really a film about anything distinct actually happening, it's an observation of young love that is trying to blossom, but there just isn't quite enough sunlight yet.


My Favorite

Welcome back!

Support Us

Like Movienade?

Please buy us a coffee

scan qr code