Early Summer

Noriko is a 28-year-old secretary living in Kamakura, Kanagawa with her extended Mamiya family, which includes her parents, Shūkichi and Shige, as well as her older brother Kōichi, a physician, his wife Fumiko, and their young sons, Minoru and Isamu. The family dynamic shifts when an elderly uncle arrives, reminding everyone of the societal expectation for Noriko to settle down and marry.

At her workplace, Noriko’s boss, Satake, suggests a match with a businessman and golfer, Mr. Manabe, who is 40 years old. This proposition leads to the emergence of two distinct circles among Noriko’s friends—those who are married and those who are not. In this milieu, Aya Tamura stands out as Noriko’s closest ally in the single group, often enjoying light-hearted teasing from both sides.

The gentle pressure from her family to accept the proposed match grows stronger as they collectively believe it is a suitable option for her age. Things take a surprising turn when childhood friend Kenkichi Yabe, a doctor and widower with a young daughter, arranges tea with Noriko and gifts her a sheaf of wheat. This sheaf holds deep emotional value as it is a token from a brother who perished in World War II, entrusted to Yabe to pass on to Noriko.

As fate would have it, Yabe’s professional assignment leads him to Akita, a place which Noriko and Aya poke fun at for its rural accent. Nevertheless, when Yabe’s mother, Tami, impulsively proposes that Noriko marry him and accompany them north, she consents. This decision, however, leaves her family in a quiet state of devastation, guiding her to question her choice, as they suggest that this match might not be the best path for her.

Despite their initial disappointment, Noriko remains steadfast, and her family begins to come to terms with her decision. The moving moment of a family photograph signifies their acceptance, with her parents finding solace in the hope that Noriko and Kenkichi might eventually return to Tokyo, allowing for future family reunions. As they prepare for this change, Noriko’s parents make their own plans to move to the countryside with her elderly uncle.

The film culminates in a poignant visual of Noriko’s parents observing a bride in traditional attire walking down a serene country road. This final scene, paired with the image of a barley field ripening in the background, beautifully encapsulates the themes of family, tradition, and the bittersweet nature of change.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 17:18