(Kazoku). In the beautifully chaotic opening scene, like a woodblock print come to life in contemporary times, a young family about to migrate from their island village run from neighbor to neighbor to say goodbye; shouts of “Try hard! Work hard!” follow them down to the pier. Traveling from sunny western Japan to wintry Hokkaido, where they intend to start a new life—a grueling trip for them, but mapped for us as a travelogue, with stops at Tokyo and the Osaka World Expo—this Catholic family will literally journey into death and rebirth. Chieko Baisho as the plucky wife anchors family and film alike, keeping both from swimming in tears; Ozu icon Chishu Ryu in a few minimalist strokes traces the life-route from patriarch to tag-along grandpa. Compare this family to the itinerant foursome in Oshima’s Boy a year earlier, and you have the alpha and omega of the Japanese family in mid-century.

—Judy Bloch

• Written by Yamada. Photographed by Tetsuo Takaba. With Chieko Baisho, Hisashi Igawa, Chishu Ryu, Gin Maeda. (106 mins, In Japanese with English subtitles, Color, ’Scope, 35mm)