Early Spring (1956)

Yasujirō Ozu's film portrays a disenchanted salaryman, exhausted by the tedium of both his marriage and work at a fire brick manufacturing company, seeking respite through an affair with a co-worker. The film explores the emotional intricacies of white-collar life, epitomizing a yearning for significance and escape, with Ryō Ikebe and Keiko Kishi in the lead roles. Ozu's distinctive approach delicately highlights the characters' melancholic lives, resonating with a deep exploration of human emotions within societal confines.