**Yasujirô Ozu** (1903-1963) was an influential Japanese director, recognized as a master of family drama. His filmography, spanning the pre- and post-war eras, sensitively explores the changes in Japanese society through everyday dynamics and generational conflicts within families.

His distinctive style is characterized by an almost always static camera, positioned low (the "tatami shot"), elliptical cuts, and a contemplative rhythm. Ozu avoided complex camera movements, focusing on the intimacy of characters and dialogues, often repetitive, which revealed deep emotions and unspoken acceptances.

Among his most celebrated works are masterpieces such as *Late Spring* (1949), *Tokyo Story* (1953) – often cited as one of the greatest films of all time – and *Equinox Flower* (1958). Ozu remains a pivotal figure in world cinema for his ability to transform the ordinary into the universal, capturing the melancholy and beauty of life.