Kobayashi Masaki made many outstanding, classic movies, and he's surely one of the most widely celebrated filmmakers of Japanese cinema. It seems strange at the outset that he would also make a picture of such an abbreviated length; moreover, stood next to pretty much any point of comparison, the predominant tone here is very light, if not almost bubbly. In its portrayal of the domestic life of a family - mother, father, and two teenaged sons - one is frankly reminded of 50s sitcoms on television in the United States, and this is echoed in Kobayashi's direction just as much as in the writing of Hayashi Fusao and Nakamura Sadao. Even where 'Youth of the son' gets relatively "intense and dramatic" it's in arguments and scuffles between clean-cut, well-dressed boys, and even this is just to broach underlying themes; in every other capacity this is a half-step away from the cutesiness of 'Leave it to Beaver' or its kin. This applies without fail to the character writing, the scene writing and dialogue, the plot, the acting, and even Kinoshita Chuji's music. Further accentuating the point, the "Happy Birthday" song is sung, and it's not the only tune herein. What a far cry from 'Kwaidan' and 'Harakiri!'

Yet none of this is specifically a mark against this little film, not even the wide, beaming smiles that the actors commonly wear throughout, nor the slight shift in tone in the last ten minutes or so. The vibes are wildly unexpected, but that is no reflection on quality. In fact, though I'm deeply curious about how 'Youth of the son' came to be in the first place, I can't say I didn't enjoy it, and it's well made exactly as it is. It really is charming, truthfully, and even funny, and endearing; in some measure it's a refreshing change of pace when stood next to the post-war dramas, the yakuza flicks, and the jidaigeki that commonly populated much of contemporary and subsequent Japanese cinema. The performances are as unfailingly vibrant and lovely as the costume design, hair, and makeup are sharp; the sets and filming locations alike are swell. The cinematography is smart and vivid, and likewise the editing, and the music adds nice flavor. There's just enough variety and warmhearted earnestness in the tiny feature to offset the general tendency toward kitsch, and the result is surprising - a pleasing, lighthearted joy that is a welcome breath of fresh air amidst the troubles of real life and the ponderous storytelling of much of the medium.

The story plays with notions of parenting, and raising boys into young men; flashes of more harsh emotions are temporary as they propel the diminutive narrative, and these forty-five minutes end as cheerfully as they begin. All told this may come off as a tad peculiar, but mostly on account of the oeuvre of the man who made it, and even at that its writing and direction are perfectly solid. It may be a smidgen ham-handed, but it's also not without meaningful heart to keep it grounded. 'Youth of the son' definitely caught me off-guard, and while I don't think it's anything that demands viewership, I'm happy to say that it really is a good time when all is said and done. Sometimes a short burst of frivolity is just what we need, and if that's what you're looking for or if you're just a fan of Kobayashi, I'm glad to give this my recommendation.

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