Here’s to the Girls (1949)

Here’s to the Girls (Ojôsan kanpai, AKA “Here’s to the Young Lady”)
Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita
Written by Kaneto Shindô
1949/Japan
Shôchiku Eiga
First viewing/Hulu Plus

[box] “It was against all scientific reason for two people who hardly knew each other, with no ties at all between them, with different characters, different upbringings, and even different genders, to suddenly find themselves committed to living together, to sleeping in the same bed, to sharing two destinies that perhaps were fated to go in opposite directions.” ― Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera[/box]

Here’s a romantic comedy, Japanese-style.  I thought it was charming.

Keizô Ishizu (Shûji Sano) is a self-made man, having built up a thriving auto repair business from nothing.  He is now 34 years old and his friend Mr. Sato has decided that it is time for him to marry – and he has just the girl.  Keizo is very reluctant but Sato eventually convinces him to at least meet this prospect.

The girl is Yatsuko Ikeda (Setsuko Hara).  Keizo considers her high above him in every way.  Nevertheless, it is love at first sight.  He soon finds out that Yatsuko’s aristocratic family will lose everything if it does not pay off a large loan in three months and that her father is in prison.  Now, despite is continued passion, he is a little worried he is only wanted for his money.  He agrees to go out with her for three months.

We follow their courtship, which is full of social blunders on Keizo’s part.  Eventually, it is not the money issue that bothers Keizo but Yatsuko’s continuing gentle reserve in the face of his enthusiasm.  The fate of the romance is in doubt until the very last minute.

This was right up my alley.  I cared about all the characters and enjoyed the gentle humor. The situation just seemed very real to me despite the completely different cultural setting.