Leofwine_draca
ONE WONDERFUL SUNDAY is a romantic mood piece from Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, made just after the Second World War. Ostensibly it's about a poor couple who traipse around Tokyo looking for entertainment, but in reality Kurosawa uses the light storyline to paint a picture of a devastated city and country, ruined by poverty and warfare and left in virtual ruins. It's a film that takes a naturalistic approach to the subject matter and may be rather slow and lacking in event for modern viewers, but the actors are sufficiently invested in their roles and there are certainly some powerful moments, not least that glorious climax.
Klaus Ming
Set in post-war Tokyo, One Wonderful Sunday is a sentimental recounting of a day in the lives of a poor young couple who spend an eventful Sunday together wondering how they will ever be as happy as they once dreamt they would be before the war ruined their country. Throughout the day, the camera follows their mundane but increasingly desperate attempts to find an affordable apartment, to cheaply amuse themselves and to remain optimistic through it all. Despite the bleak reality of their situation, and the fact that all they have is each other, this seems enough to sustain them, and ultimately it is their heartfelt hopefulness which provides a glimmer of hope for their future together. As a reflection of post-war Japan, One Wonderful Sunday demonstrates of the power and importance of optimism in the country's eventual renewal and prosperity (Klaus Ming January 2011).
Vishal Agrawal
A poor couple spend a Sunday together. They desperately try to have a good time but their pockets are just too empty to think of anything else.This is one unbelievable film. Genre is Neo-realism but the style is poetic. I think this is Kurusowa's best. Of course it lacks the complexity of 'Rashomon', grandeur of 'Ran', brilliance of 'kagemusha' or even novelty of 'Seven Samurai' but this film is no doubt a fantastic depiction of human misery by the genius himself. There are so many scenes where you are so much into the scene that you don't realize that the camera has not moved in a long time. For example when girl leaves the room and Yuzo walks around frustrated the camera doesn't move. It gives a very theatrical feel. Every single track is a master piece. I loved the scene where Yuzo goes inside a hotel to meet his friend and he see people in changing rooms and staff rooms. Its brilliant. Its out of the world. How the hell he thinks about about such fantastic locations. Baseball , Ticket line, Yuzo's home, Opera, hotel. Its just fantastic. Parallel allusion drawn with sunshine and rain was phenomenal. Significance of the cigarette bud was sheer genius. Clap, coffee, home. Its unbelievable.I have no idea why people call it Kurosawa's transitional film. Great director make all kinds of films. which one is Spielberg's, Kubrick's or kiarostami's transitional film? I think if a person doesn't like this film then he has no idea what poverty is. 10/10.
Glenn Andreiev
ONE WONDERFUL SUNDAY (1947) has a simple little plot. A young Tokyo couple have almost no money to spend on their only day available for a date. It isn't long until the money is gone, as well as the young man's spirit. The ending is uncomfortably corny, you will squirm in your seat. There is signs of Akira Kurosawa becoming a great director. He makes us pay attention to the decreasing amount of money (much like he made us pay attention to the number of slain bandits in SEVEN SAMURAI, and his stab at Frank Capra style humor is pretty good. A must see for the student of this great director.
AD
