In post-World War II Japan, grieving widower Shukichi Somiya (Chishu Ryu) takes comfort in the presence of his only daughter (Setsuko Hara), who's old enough to marry but chooses instead to stay home and care for her aging father. Knowing she'll never take a husband as long as Shukichi remains alone, he crafts an innocent lie to push her out of the nest. This lyrical black-and-white drama distinguished Yasujiro Ozu as one of Japan's leading directors.