Mother (1952 film)
Mother (おかあさん, Okaasan) is a 1952 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Mikio Naruse, starring Kinuyo Tanaka in the title role. The film is based on the on a prize-winning entry of a school essay-writing competition and screenplay by Yūko Mizuki.[1]
| Mother | |
|---|---|
 Publicity image for the movie Mother | |
| Directed by | Mikio Naruse |
| Produced by | Ichiro Nagashima |
| Written by | Yūko Mizuki (screenplay) |
| Starring | Kinuyo Tanaka Kyōko Kagawa Daisuke Katō |
| Music by | Ichirō Saitō |
| Cinematography | Hiroshi Suzuki |
| Edited by | Hidetoshi Kasama |
| Distributed by | Shintoho |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
The film is presented as the view of young woman named Toshiko Fukuhara, the daughter of a widowed mother of four children during the tough post-war years.
Plot
The film depicts a tough period in the life of Masako Fukuhara (Kinuyo Tanaka) who struggles to look after an ill son, failing from dust of velvet-making workshop, a husband ill from overwork in the war, a young girl, a younger boy cousin and a teenage daughter Toshiko (Kyōko Kagawa). Forced to take over the family dry-cleaning business after the death of her husband, Masako also attempts to cope with her daughter's rebellious behavior. Toshiko, meanwhile, harbors suspicions that her mother is falling for her Uncle Kimura (Daisuke Katō), even as she herself starts to feel the first stirrings of love and passion. Through it all, Masako works on uncomplaining and efficient, while enjoying the pleasures of watching her children grow up.
Cast
- Kinuyo Tanaka as Masako Fukuhara
- Kyōko Kagawa as Toshiko Fukuhara
- Eiji Okada as Shinjiro
- Daisuke Katō as Uncle Kimura
Awards
1953 - Blue Ribbon Awards
- Best Director – Mikio Naruse
- Best Supporting Actor – Daisuke Katō
1953 – Mainichi Film Award
- Best Film Score – Ichirō Saitō
- Best Supporting Actor – Daisuke Katō
- Best Supporting Actress – Kyōko Kagawa[2]
External links
- Uhlich Keith. "Mother review." Slant Magazine, 14 February 2006.
- Mother at Japan Movie Database
- Mother on IMDb