Yearning
Asia Society and Museum – New York, NY
12/3/10

Reiko (Hideko Takamine), a war-widow, keeps her late husband’s family store afloat against supermarket competition and the meddling of her in-laws. Fed up with the pressure, she embarks on a journey home, accompanied by a younger brother-in-law (Yuzo Kayama). The journey, with hints of forbidden romance, ends with a shocking finale. Known as “a great director of women” (Film Comment), Naruse contemplates a society challenged by capitalism and changing social mores in this stunningly shot feature.

“[In the films of Naruse,] a flow of shots that looks calm and ordinary at first glance reveals itself to be like a deep river with a quiet surface disguising a fast-raging current.” – Akira Kurosawa

Part of the Japanese Cinema 1960s series co-presented with the Japan Foundation. This project was supported in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Admission FREE.

Dir. Mikio Naruse. 1964.
100 min. 35mm. B&W.
In Japanese with English subtitles.

Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Avenue
New York, NY

***
http://asiasociety.org/