there was a father (1942)

after his wife's death, professor horikawa has to look after his son ryohei's education. during a school trip, one of horikawa's students lost his life in an accident. although he is not responsible for what happened, the professor cannot help feeling oppressed by a terrible sense of guilt, which leads him to leave school and move with his son to his home village. after finding a place for ryohei in the dormitory of a local school, his father goes to work in distant tokyo. many years pass before the two can meet again. ryohei has also become a geometry teacher. in a small mountain hotel the two spend happy moments together. the son says he wants to leave work in the countryside to move to tokyo and be able to live next to his father. he replies that personal feelings must be overshadowed by social duties, that abandoning one's job, obtained thanks to a university recommendation, is an unfair act. the child has no choice but to consent. some time later ryohei, who went to tokyo to undergo a conscription visit, can meet his father again. during his son's stay, horikawa died suddenly. ryohei returns to his work, with his new wife, daughter of a mico of his father, and the ashes of the deceased parent.