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There Was a Father

1942Movie1 h 33 min

Drama
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Rotten Tomatoes100%82%

A moving, melancholic drama movie about family and history, with standout characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want something to laugh at

Where to watch

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Not for laughs, scares or adrenaline.

Movies with

Story

Shuhei Horikawa, a poor schoolteacher, struggles to raise his son Ryohei by himself, despite neither money nor prospects.

Feels like

  • Japanese Cinema
  • Single Fatherhood
  • Historical Drama
  • Family Dynamics
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Melancholy
  • Thought-Provoking
  • Slow Burn
  • Emotional Resonance

Cast

16 of 16

Crew

Directed by
Yasujirō Ozu
Written by
Yasujirō Ozu, Tadao Ikeda, Takao Yanai
Music by
Akira Saiki

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 1, 1942 · 1 h 33 min · Drama

Released
April 1, 1942
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Genres
Drama
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Available in
131 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream There Was a Father?"

Questions about There Was a Father

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream There Was a Father?

HBO MaxPlex

In the United States, There Was a Father streams on HBO Max, and it is free with ads on Plex. It also streams in 130 other countries.

Is There Was a Father worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 7.5 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (79).

Is There Was a Father okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is There Was a Father plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is There Was a Father in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.