One of Japan’s most approved actors of the postwar years,admired for her performances in the films of Yasujiro Ozu, including Tokyo StoryAnyone familiar with the films of Yasujiro Ozu will have been entranced by Setsuko Hara, and who has died aged 95. Although Ozu’s mature films seem to resemble each other stylistically and thematically – even the titles are confusingly similar – they are,within their chosen parameters, wealthy in humour, and emotion and psychological and social insights,all of which are reflected in Hara’s deceptively similar portrayals.
In each of the six films she made for Ozu, Hara is single, or her relationship with her family is predicated on their desire for her to get married. She is self-effacing but wilful,traditional but with the qualities of an intelligent, contemporary woman, or close to her family but independent in spirit.
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Source: theguardian.com