Thursday, August 11, 2022

What We Wouldn't Do for Setsuko Hara

In 1949's Here's to the Lady (お嬢さん乾杯), Setsuko Hara is considered unmarriageable. So it's a far-fetched premise but it's actually a very mild, sweet little romantic drama.

Of the two leads, Hara has the the smaller role because the story is told from the man's perspective.

Ishizu (Shuji Sano) is a handsome and successful owner of an automotive shop. But he's 34 and unmarried so a mutual friend decides he's perfect for Yasuko (Hara).

When he meets her, he thinks she's way out of his league. He comes from a working class background and she's been brought up to be a lady. But the mutual friend argues that such class distinctions don't matter anymore—probably a reference to the new constitution (this was during the period when the Japanese film industry was still overseen by an American committee). So, fellas, you too can now marry a refined lady.

She takes him to the ballet and he's so moved by it he cries. He takes her to a boxing match and she gets really enthusiastic about the fight.

After he proposes marriage, he learns about the catch. She had a previous fiance who died in the war, but they'd never even kissed. Her father is in prison because "he was tricked" into starting a fraudulent business. Now her whole family is in debt.

Ishizu has plenty of money because he'd worked hard all his life. So, he and Yasuko are both morally pure.

But then . . . but then nothing. This one doesn't have a lot of drama. But it's always a pleasure to see Setsuko Hara.

Here's to the Lady is available on The Criterion Channel.

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