ozu and screenwriter kōgo noda wrote the script in 103 days, loosely basing it on the 1937 american film, "make way for tomorrow", directed by leo mccarey. noda suggested adapting the film, which ozu had not yet seen. ozu used many of the same cast and crew members that he had worked with for years. released in japan in 1953, it did not immediately gain international recognition and was considered "too japanese" to be marketable by japanese film exporters. it was screened in 1957 in london, where it won the inaugural sutherland trophy the following year, and received praise from us film critics after a 1972 screening in new york city.