Mother (1952 film)

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 dates	12 June 1952 (1952-06-12) (Japan)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

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]

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]

References

External links

• Uhlich Keith. "Mother review." Slant Magazine, 14 February 2006.
• Mother at Japan Movie Database
• Mother at the Internet Movie Database