What no one seems to mention regarding the classic Japanese directors is that while most filmmakers say they love Akira Kurosawa, the more thoughtful of them are mostly interested in following the footsteps of Yasujiro Ozu. They would rather make the next Tokyo Story than the next Seven Samurai. French director Claire Denis has now used Ozu's Late Spring as a jumping-off point for 35 Shots of Rum.

In this Denis film, a father (Alex Descas) lives happily with his grown daughter (Mati Diop), yet moves inevitably towards the act of letting her go to live her own life. And though the underlying driving theme is different -- Late Spring's catalyst is an adherence to the tradition of having to marry daughters off -- the overall effect of Denis's movie duplicates that unique and wonderful Ozu effect of feeling your emotions brew as you watch the movie, only to have them crush you in the end after reaching a resigned acceptance of the events that come to pass.

To give Denis proper credit, no knowledge of Ozu is required to appreciate the effect her film can have on you -- it's a warm and lovely character piece centering on the father and daughter, and the relationships they have to their neighbors. It specializes in little moments, the kinds you might find yourself reflecting upon and allowing to influence certain decisions and thoughts about the people in your life; as emphasis (and a poetic touch), much of the film is communicated with spare dialogue. 35 Shots of Rum understands that every good moment and every comfortable situation is fleeting, that change is inevitable, and that the next good moment is unpredictable but potentially around the corner. But it also understands that the changes hurt, and the worst anyone can do is not to let go of that pain. Those realizations of human vulnerability at the hands of the forward momentum of time are what make Denis's film as easily affecting as a touching Ozu drama.

(Released by The Cinema Guild; not rated by MPAA.)

Review also posted at www.windowtothemovies.com.