本片是小津早期的作品《独生子》的变奏，描写相依为命的两父子，一直在乡间生活。父亲原是一名正直的好老师，但因一次意外，导致一位学童在学校郊游时溺亡，终于他咎辞职，并只身远赴东京寻找工作，留下儿子一人在乡间就读寄宿学校。正所谓虎父无犬子，儿子长大后，首先到先台读大学，及后更在秋田谋得教席。他终日冀盼能和父亲共聚天伦，可惜却仍示如愿。儿子在入伍前，要到东京验身，终于能和父亲住在一起，可是父亲却在这时突然病危，子欲养而亲不在，总叫人唏嘘不已。

　　
One of the most private of Ozu's films, "There Was A Father" is resemblance of his early work, "The Only Son". An aging father, who has been a good teacher all his life, has to leave his son to work in Tokyo, due to an accident that happened in his school. His son grew up to follow his footsteps and become a teacher, but all he wants is to live with his father again. When the son finally has a chance to live with his age-old father, his father falls critically ill. Replacing the playful and demonstrative affection between father and son in the "Kihachi" series, this film observes silently the moments when emotions are unconsciously in unison, and is all the more touching.

　
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区码：6区
音频格式：杜比数字AC-3
画面尺寸：4:3
色彩：黑白