There Was a Father

A father and his son, a son and his father. Horikawa (Chichu Ryu) is a widower, a teacher, and a good father to Ryohei (Haruhiko Tsuda), who's about 10. After a tragedy, Horikawa resigns from teaching and takes Ryohei from Tokyo to the town of Ueno, enrolling him in junior high; to the lad's sorrow, he will be a boarder. Horikawa returns to work in Tokyo, their separation is complete. Jump ahead more than 10 years: with dad's help, Ryohei (Shuji Sano) has finished college and has a teaching job in Akita. Horikawa considers living with his son, which Ryohei wants, but the elder's notions of duty and hard work preclude it. Ryohei arranges a 10-day vacation with his father. Heartbreak comes quietly, nearly hidden by dignity.