Ozu recreates a world of petty thieves, confidence men and flappers in this comedy about a delinquent boy, Kenji, who reforms for the love of a virtuous young woman, Yasue. Ozu made silents well into the sound era, and films like Walk Cheerfully display his experimentation with rapid editing and camera movements, as well as his remarkable knack for establishing atmosphere. "Kenji and Senko live in a messy apartment cluttered with boxing gear and memorabilia-fight posters and newspaper articles line the walls and a punching bag hangs from the ceiling. Yasue and her family live in genteel poverty, while the hoods hang out in an appropriately smoky pool hall." (David Owens, The Japan Society)