IWASHIGUMO (SUMMER CLOUDS)
Producers: FUJIMOTO Sanezumi and MIWA Reiji
Based on WADA Den's novel
Screenplay: HASHIMOTO Shinobu
Director of photography: TAMAI Masao
Art director: CHUKO Satoshi - SONO Makoto
Sound: FUJIYOSHI Masao - MIYAZAKI Masanobu Lighting Technician: ISHII Choshiro
Music: SAITO Ichiro
Assistant director: SUGAWA Eizo Editing: OI Hideshi
Developing: "Tokyo Genzosho" Technology: "Toho Gijutsu"
Production manager: SHIMADA Takeharu
Cast:
AWASHIMA Chikage ARATAMA Michiyo
MIZUNO Kumi TSUKASA Yoko
KIMURA Isao KOBAYASHI Keiju
KATO Daisuke NAKAMURA Ganjiro
SUGIMURA Haruko KIYOKAWA Nijiko
IIDA Choko OTSUKA Kunio
TACHIKAWA Hiroshi
NARAOKA Tomoko
KAHARA Natsuko
HONMA Fumiko UENO Akemi
ISHII Ikichi
A film by NARUSE Mikio
Should I come with you?
It's to discuss big money.
I need you, mother-in-law.
The inspector tried to listen.
He heard everything.
Don't worry. I'm not from the tax department.
Talk to me about the poultry.
I had to reduce my holdings,
because the eggs don't bring revenues anymore.
Barely 3,000 yen a month.
But for the people, eggs are still expensive.
Rice brings in 168,000 yen.
Corn, 15,000 yen.
Poultry, around 40,000 yen...
This makes a total of 358,000 yen of yearly revenue.
That much?
It's an evaluation.
70 ares of rice, 50 ares of corn.
With 1,2 hectares of arable land,
you will earn 30,000 yen a month.
Food doesn't cost you anything. You live well.
Your calculation is wrong.
You forgot to subtract the expenses.
The fertilizers are expensive, and the taxes are high.
We slave away the whole year round without one single vacation day.
It's true.
Actually, the land reformation imposes fair heritage.
Fair heritage?
Kids receive the exact same part.
The reason of this discussion,
it's the real life of the peasants and this reform.
According to this reform,
the land, the house, the tools, the cash...
everything has to be shared.
But in reality,
how can you share land and utensils?
As you say!
In this case,
in order to apply the reform,
people will have to give the equivalent in cash,
Or sell at market price.
What are you talking about?
There is something more important.
The poultry, the cattle...
Clothes...
No, something more important.
You are far from it.
Hmm... I can't see what it is.
The elders.
You have to be a peasant to understand it.
May be, but I can imagine.
And then, there are other things to share.
The income tax arrears.
The loans.
You actually think
that the kids wouldn't really appreciate this reform.
Before, we forced the eldest to succeed,
and the youngsters lived the good life abroad.
I am totally for this reform.
We share the inheritance but also the elders.
Ah, this is equity then!
I came here as a daughter-in-law 15 years ago.
But I have no existence.
They will recognize me only after my son's marriage.
In the meantime, I am nothing.
You have personality, though.
- I'm home. - Welcome home.
It's my eldest son.
This gentleman is a journalist.
Good morning.
Tell granny that I'll bring her back to town. Her bicycle broke.
No, there is the bus.
At this time, they are rare.
It's not worth it.
Only a glass.
For the bike, I owe you this, right?
You embarrass me.
Chitose Hotel Restaurant
Thank you.
I had a pleasant day.
There are not many people that answer so sincerely to my survey.
I enjoyed as well.
Generally, I find it difficult to express my opinion.
But you knew how to.
Do you come to the city sometimes?
It's very rare.
Why?
I am like a river alder.
An alder?
I'm deeply rooted.
Are you a war widow?
Yes.
I see.
Come on, take some.
Welcome!
Good evening.
Good grief!
It's you!
Chie, it's you.
Are you alive?
Yes, I'm alive!
Do you know each other?
Yes, we went to the same school.
- Boss, the client is waiting for you. - I'm coming.
Is this place yours?
I come back. Don't leave!
I have plenty of things to tell you.
I'm not leaving.
I didn't know that she came back here.
Her business works well.
It seems that she went through a lot when she was in Tokyo.
She had to be a waitress.
It seems, yes.
Before, this was a dive.
She bought it and renewed it.
It worked.
So, Chie remarried?
Her husband, is he the manager?
It's pretty much like that.
She will talk to you about it.
She doesn't hide anything.
It's incredible.
She remained young.
We have the same age, though.
The same age?
It will get cold.
Where should I leave your bike?
At your work?
It's not far from here. I will show you afterwards.
Toyo Magazin - Atsugi's office
Come in.
- Seriously, it embarrasses me. - It's nothing.
In any case, I need to bring my son into town.
Some tea, please.
He's a good boy.
I only have one, luckily.
I would like him to go to university.
It's not easy.
If he becomes a peasant, it will be very hard for him to get married.
It's true, today's women don't really like the countryside.
If I had a daughter, I'd hesitate.
Only if she would marry an only child that would inherit everything,
and whose parents are dead, or almost...
Otherwise, I wouldn't agree.
And a peasant has a hard life with many brothers?
That kind will never be able to get married.
My brother worries for his unmarried older son.
He is trying to find him a wife.
Your brother?
Stop this noise.
Let's eat!
Hatsu!
Hurry up.
Go take your bath. The wood is burning for nothing.
Ok.
Tell me, dad.
Shinji, take Hatsu's turn.
I need to talk to you.
About what?
I'm moving to the city.
I found a room.
What?
You know, the Marushichi shop behind the avenue.
They have storehouse that is used as a room.
The old man that lived there has died.
I don't agree.
It's an useless expense.
A useless expense?
Absolutely.
Here, you have a house and you are fed. It's more economical.
With what I give you every month, I will be able to pay for my room.
It will be the same.
It's not the same.
If you leave, you will spend your money outside.
If I stay here, it costs me much more.
What is wrong with it?
I have spent a lot for your studies.
You talk as if you paid my university,
but it is only a business school.
The kind of school doesn't matter.
Thanks to me, you work in a bank.
You are the most privileged of the family.
Don't you agree?
You wouldn't have to think about the rice fields.
No taxes of inheritance.
We have too many mouths to feed.
If I leave, it will relieve you.
It's true, he is right.
He will be in the way here, when the eldest will be married. If he wants to leave, it'll be now.
So?
She is good, no?
Mr Okawa recommends her.
Mr Okawa?
The journalist from the other day. He is a very good man.
She got a prize at the agricultural contest.
I haven't seen her photo on the paper but I have read the article.
Good.
Make her come in the spring.
That way she will work on the corn and the transplanting.
Hurry up to get married, it will relieve us.
I need Yae. She cannot help you.
Hatsuji's mother was the first wife of my brother.
We blamed her for her lack of fervour in the fields.
Our father kicked her out.
Hatsuji must have been 3 or 4 months old, at the time.
That's awful.
With his second wife, my brother had Shinji.
He is employed in a bank in town.
Since he already had Hatsuji,
the wife's family imposed one condition:
To give part of the land to the stepbrother that will be born.
As soon as Shinji came to life, the wife's family
already wanted to go to the notary
in order to put the part of land on their grandson's name.
But our father got really angry,
and he kicked out my brother's second wife.
After that, he married his current wife.
She is the third one.
But this third one made a lot of babies.
First she had two boys, and then two girls.
Three wives,
a reform that breaks us up,
and about twenty heirs...
So many things happened
that Hatsuji is still unmarried at 28.
Your family is complicated.
I'm afraid you went through a lot of trouble for nothing.
To tell the truth,
the girl also has a very complicated family.
We shall go to Hambara to know more about it.
But I believe it will work.
I'd like to come with you.
I was going to ask you.
I could go alone, but we will understand better if we are two.
When do you think you will go?
Let's see... I have to finish one article.
I will call you as soon as I can.
I'm sorry, I know you are so busy.
You are so thoughtful. How can I thank you?
It has been a while,
since I wanted to show you such an immense land.
Why?
Because you could become stronger and happier.
Are you going to Hambara?
Is she from Hambara, the girl?
I'm going to verify everything.
Are you going alone?
Yes.
You are going through a lot of trouble, for someone else's wife!
The people from here, what do they live with?
There are no fields. They live off the mountain.
They are either coal producers or wood carriers.
Do you come here often?
Sometimes.
I feel like I'm at the end of the earth.
But we are only 12 km away from the city.
It's on the other side of the bridge.
Ah, I see.
The reform has affected the land owners.
But not those who own forests.
We are going to ask the hostel.
It's the countryside, here.
People all know each other, even too much sometimes!
Motoyu SPA
She is a beautiful and kind girl.
And also very hardworking! The ideal wife for a farmer.
Only...
Michiko is adopted.
She was adopted by Toyo who had three kids.
She was Oryo's daughter, but she died.
I must admit...
that it is an inconvenient.
Michiko's mother, where did she come from?
Are you talking about Oryo?
She was the daughter of the Terasawa from Tsukui.
There is nothing to worry about her family.
Why did she die?
She had been contaminated by a bad virus.
And her adopted mother, where is she from?
Toyo is from Nakagawara of Zama.
Where about in Nakagawara?
A place called Yashiro.
Yashiro of Nakagawara?
Did you say her name was Toyo?
Do you know her?
How does she look like?
She must be around 50.
Do you know
if she lived somewhere else before coming here?
You know her then!
She was once married in Atsugi.
She had to leave her first child.
But this was 30 years ago.
Do you know her?
The world is big and small at the same time.
I don't have a clear memory of her.
Just a vague figure.
I have only seen her from the back.
What I remember,
is that my father screamed at her.
He blamed her of not working hard enough.
But I don't remember what my brother was doing.
I only have a vague memory.
He walked in front of the house, with a baby on his back.
His wife was in the scullery,
leaning sadly on the mortar board.
No. This was my mother.
But that's good.
I'm reassured.
If Michiko was Toyo's daughter,
she would be Hatsuji's step-sister.
And the arrangement would fall through.
But with all these stories, it seems like a bad start already.
I'm more optimistic than you.
You think?
A bit more?
I don't...
I believe,
that destiny put them together.
It shall not be disturbed.
Let's avoid talking too much about the past.
and it will work.
What worries me, is not my nephew...
It's Toyo, isn't it?
Yes.
Let's go see her tomorrow!
With such enthusiasm, it will work.
Finish your drink.
Do you feel bad?
No.
But I feel dizzy.
It was the last bus for Atsugi.
We can't go home then.
We will go back, at least I think we can.
We can ask the police.
Or the forest association.
We can't do that.
If it was for work, it would be ok.
We stay to finish our research.
I warned them by telegram.
I call for the beds.
Ok.
Tell me...
Do you regret?
Tell me if you regret.
Tell me.
No.
Tell me...
Answer frankly.
Do you regret?
No.
It's not an answer.
What should I say?
It doesn't matter.
Too bad for you if you regret.
I...
I don't want to take you away from your wife.
I shouldn't have asked such a thing.
I shouldn't have.
I love you.
That's all.
It's good like that.
Tell me... You will go in first.
We can't together.
Michiko's mother, Toyo,
I want to go see her on my own.
Organise this encounter for me.
And come back right after.
Tell me...
What will you tell your wife?
No, forget this question.
I don't want to know.
I love you.
That's all.
It's good like that.
You know...
I remember your face.
Really?
I only remember your figure.
How is he?
My brother?
He suddenly got older.
His hair is white.
You would be surprised.
Him too, surely.
I got old as well.
Tell me, why don't you go visit him?
That's true, it would be logical.
Ok?
What weird destiny!
As you say!
I truly hope that the arrangement works out.
I will try to convince my husband.
But the kids, don't know anything yet.
Oh, right!
See you!
I will move on Sunday.
I will bring the essentials.
I called a mover.
She must adore this house.
I'm talking about Toyo.
She will marry her daughter here, in her stead.
If Hatsuji and her daughter like each other, we can't do anything about it.
Did you know that Toyo lived in Hambara?
She lived 12 km from here for thirty years.
Distance doesn't matter.
Once we are separated.
You remarried quickly.
I'm not saying it to be mean.
I prefer her rather than any other woman
to see our misery.
And the ceremony, have you thought about it? It's time.
It will be expensive, that's for sure.
What will Hatsuji wear?
At the time of my elder farmers,
the sons were wearing a kimono for their wedding.
We must make one.
No, no need to worry.
Why?
We will borrow the one from Dai, my brother-in-law.
He wore it only once, for his marriage with my sister.
It is almost new.
Besides, my dad paid for it.
We won't need it anymore. Take it.
Since we didn't get any son.
- I'll give it back to you. - No, keep it.
It came from your home. Here, I give it back to you.
Did my husband say anything?
Not at all.
But I know him.
Don't talk nonsense.
His father gave it to you. And he is dead.
Just lend it to me.
We will need to alter it.
I will help you. Come back for this.
We'll do it together.
It's quiet here.
We are the quietest of the village.
and better off as well!
Money, does it come in?
Not at all.
I come back tomorrow.
Yes, the earlier the better.
How many tatami have you made since winter?
A thousand, at least?
Yes, pretty much.
20 yen a piece... it pays well.
Sister!
What?
I will need to talk to you. About my daughter, Hamako.
She wants to go to university.
Her master supports her.
She can pass the make up exam.
At university?
She is the only child. We can pay.
Her master says that she has good skills.
But it bothers me for your husband.
Yes, what will he think about it?
You might convince him.
I will try.
At university?
Why should we ask for their advice?
Because your two cousins are not studying.
It's not our problem.
It's stupid!
Is there a wedding?
Where is the girl coming from?
From the Hambara side.
A girl with weird taste...
I would never go live there. I'd rather die!
The aunt is a real magpie!
The uncle is an old toad!
Awful!
Where is Yasue?
At the neighbour's.
Dai!
It seems that
you are going to pay the university to Hamako?
It's not decided yet.
Hamako talks about it by herself.
She needs to get a husband here.
You know it!
Yes, since she is our only child.
Idiot!
A peasant’s son
will never marry a graduated girl!
Stupid parents.
You became insane!
Looking at Dai's condition,
you must quickly marry Hamako.
If she graduates, do you think you'll have peasant son in law?
Unless she wants to live in the city
and she will marry an employee.
Is that what you want?
Not at all!
It doesn't matter.
But if she studies,
she will marry someone from the city.
If you want to have an employed son in law,
I will not contradict you.
But in this case,
you must give me back my parts of land!
What are you saying? We will stay peasants, of course.
For me, it is the same.
A graduated woman with a husband without any studies...
Where have you ever seen that?
Think about our father.
I had to share his land.
Give me back your piece of land.
Yasue.
You must be tired of working at Dai's place.
You will be better off by taking a son-in-law to help you.
Of course! I'm exhausted.
Dai!
Find a good peasant for Hamako!
Don't let her study!
Don't forget
that my daughters are not going to high school.
And if yours goes to university,
you will be the laughing stock of the village.
Go to bed.
Lock the door.
I would prefer a discreet party among friends,
instead of an ufficial goodbye.
Time has changed since the war.
What about the spring journey?
What's scheduled?
Either an art tour or one night at the spa.
What are the advices?
No one agrees. We let you decide.
Same mother, same daughter.
At Dai's, women have the power.
Don't you agree with me?
What are you talking about?
Imagine Jun and Hamako as a couple.
It would be Hamako that has all the power.
Hatsuji is the eldest that inherits.
Shinji studied and he is employed.
I still need to fix Jun.
At Dai's, there are both a land and a girl.
What do you say?
Do you agree?
Is that true?
I thought you were ignoring my Jun,
and that you preferred your ex-wife's sons.
So I was filled with rage.
All fathers worry for their sons.
If I forbid Hamako to study, is for this reason.
Ok, but,
we need to be quick.
Why?
She is already mature.
She is a smart kid.
Hamako?
Already?
They say that intelligent people are premature.
For the moment,
let's hurry to marry our eldest, Hatsuji.
Yes, quickly.
Shinji...
We will give you what you need when you'll get married.
Be patient.
Don't worry.
It's ready.
Let's go.
What is it, this old thing?
Give it to him.
It's old, but authentic.
Youngsters don't care about antiques.
You don't understand anything.
He is gone.
Good morning!
What do you want?
I want to talk to you.
I'm almost done. We'll talk at my house.
My ox is slower, that's for sure.
Tell me...
What if you'd rebuild the storeroom?
You have to pay for the ad valorem tax anyway, and it is empty.
It will be your home with Michiko.
I already thought about it.
Did the postman came already?
There is an envelope from Yoshiko.
It's my daughter. She is so kind!
She always thinks about me, and she is so poor.
She makes fun of me.
Let me explain.
She is happy with her little envelope.
And to me, never a kind word in 15 years.
She never thought about my grief.
But thanks to her daughter's mandates,
she costs you less, right?
That's what you think!
Before, I was the one going to the post office to collect her mandates.
And I was asking her if I could do some shopping with them.
But she forbid me to use her daughter's money.
She said it would be a waste.
She never spent one yen!
And when the itinerant grocer comes,
she makes me pay.
She doesn't spend her daughter's money,
but with the money I toughly earn,
she buys whatever she wants.
She will end up killing me.
If it's hard even for you...
Do you think about Michiko?
A father-in-law, a mother-in-law...
When Shinji leaves, there are still two brothers-in-law left,
and two sisters-in-law.
Try to avoid living in the storeroom.
So, are you happy?
It's the crisis.
I only have 300 yen.
Nice day, isn't it?
Yes, beautiful weather.
Tell me, Yae.
Think about paying your arrears. The internal revenue service will go bankrupt.
Sorry. I don't forget about you, but...
Sales for my vegetables are bad.
There is mother-in-law.
Make her pay.
I can't ask her.
I will pay at the end of the month.
Her money must smell musty. She'd better air it out.
I'm sorry.
So, what about the wedding?
It hasn't been decided yet.
At home, I will ask you again after the wedding.
That's kind of you.
You know,
without wanting to be moral,
in the current era big wedding parties are no longer used.
Goodbye.
Sorry.
You father will organise a great wedding for you.
He is trying to surprise the neighbours.
A lot of saké.
A lot of food.
He doesn't have the means.
I will tell him.
Yoshiko's daughter is ill.
She want her mother to come to Tokyo.
She needs help.
Really?
Mr Okawa has to contact me today.
We'll discuss your marriage.
I'm going to call the association. Wait here.
Hey!
Hi!
What are you doing?
- I'm at the sewing school. - Sewing school?
Are you sewing?
What about university?
- They forbid it. - Why?
They can afford to pay your studies.
They told me to renounce.
Under you father's pressure.
- My father? - Yes.
Everyone obeys him.
Welcome!
Coffee?
- Two coffees. - Right away.
It's my father, then.
Yes, he is making fun of us.
Like he takes care of his children.
It's ridiculous!
Your father is like that.
Mine is a coward.
Do you have a sewing machine?
My mother wanted to wait a bit.
But since I'll no longer go to university,
she agreed. It costed three bags of rice.
Such a waste!
Why?
I would have made you a 20% discount.
Are you serious?
One of my clients is selling some.
What a pity.
What will you do, after?
I don't know.
Shall we go to the cinema?
We'll eat after.
Really?
To compensate my father's mistake.
Don't say anything. You will get in for free.
Chitose Hotel - Restaurant
Excuse-me.
Welcome.
Good evening.
Did it work?
Yes, thank you.
Tonight, I invite you.
The lady prefers a fruit juice?
I'll bring you some later.
She is my cousin. We went to your boss' cinema.
Was it good?
So?
Not bad.
Is she part of Yae's family?
Yes.
Yae is our aunt.
I see.
Enjoy.
- Welcome. - Is the boss here?
- Come in. - Welcome.
It has been a long time! Come in.
I was busy.
In the expensive room.
Did she get a loan with you?
Is that it?
Shut up and eat.
You take advantage of it!
Is she a friend of aunt Yae?
Yes, since college.
College?
Yes, the same as yours.
Aunt Yae went to high school?
We were rich once.
That's why she is smart.
Not like our fathers.
It's not the same generation.
That's not the question.
Do you read the paper, Toyo?
Why?
There is serial about the daughters-in-law on the countryside
and their new life style.
Aunt Yae wrote it.
It's here.
Here?
It's lightened.
Not a very common place.
Are you going up?
If I miss the 8h25 bus,
there is one at 9h15...
Another time.
I'll cook for you.
And some cleaning.
Do you know how to cook rice?
Don't make fun of me!
Come back when another film comes out.
Bye.
Dad, is that you?
Where you waiting for me?
- I brought you some rice. - Thank you, this will help.
- When did you arrive? - With the 1h30 bus.
Since it is sunday, I thought you would be home.
Sorry, I had to work.
I was at a client's place.
It hard to be an employee.
Are you hungry?
Yes.
I wanted to talk to you.
That's why I waited.
Talk about what?
If I don't make a loan,
I will not be able to pay for Hatsuji's wedding.
Don't count on me.
Of course, that's what banks are for.
But...
Can't you do something about it?
First of all, we do not put mortages on lands.
And your house,
cannot be used as a guarantee.
Are you sure?
Yes, almost.
I had doubts about it.
Too bad.
I'll ask my brother-in-law for a loan.
Your brother-in-law?
Actually,
I wanted to have your opinion on it.
If he lends me some money,
I will reimburse you with May's and November's harvest...
I will also pay for the interests.
Like at the association's bank.
With Hatsuji's wife, we will work faster.
She will make us earn more money
and we will be ale to pay back without any problem.
And do you want me to go talk to him?
With me, he'll feel obliged.
And Hatsuji is not at the right place to ask since he is the groom.
You are well accepted within Dai's family.
No way! It's your job.
If you talk to him, I'm sure it will work out.
Tell me.
Why is Hamako not going to university?
She must marry a peasant.
It's her parents who decide, right?
You behave like a boss with them, and you want to borrow money from them?
I'm not borrowing. I'm just adjusting.
You don't borrow, you adjust...
Dad, you must come back to earth.
Times have changed, you understand?
What do you mean, have changed?
Let's not talk about it anymore.
I refuse. You shall do it yourself.
Is that a no?
Three times no.
Are you leaving?
I'm going to make some tea.
I don't want any.
I know what you like.
So, you are staying?
It's saké!
They gave it to me.
Do you drink it cold?
Listen, dad.
Don't you want to organise a wedding
as far as your means allow it?
I can't.
I don't have money!
Even if I had some, I'd say no.
It's ridiculous. At our times, a loan for a marriage...
Is that a no, then?
No is no.
But you don't have any debt with the association.
Do you want me to borrow there?
There is no way I will help you with this ridiculous initiative.
Who is getting married? It's not you!
Let Hatsuji do as he feels.
Hatsuji and Michiko will eventually find a proper solution.
What about my duty as a father, what do we do with it?
Your duty as a father?
In the past, the young bride was welcomed as if she was a daughter.
But now, she is foremost her husband's wife.
You shall not feel responsible for this.
You write articles for the paper.
You learnt how to say things.
Plus you became younger all of a sudden.
Without the parents, women stays young.
Is that it then?
Eh, yes.
If my mother-in-law was here,
you wouldn't have dared coming here begging.
You will soon be old as well.
Be careful.
It's stupid.
But I'm right.
Your first wife was kicked out because she was incompetent.
Who kicked her out? Remember.
It wasn't me, it was my father.
Absolutely. You were not responsible for it.
You were actually the victim.
Now, it's the same.
Your ideas could be prejudicial for Hatsuji and for his wife.
What am I supposed to do then?
The wedding is approaching. How am I going to pay for it?
Don't do anything.
They will manage on their own.
Yae...
I'm not saying that we have to do like when we were the big owners.
I know how to be reasonable.
But you know,
I'm often invited to the weddings of our old farmers.
Since I would have to host
I look at the number of guests,
at the quality of dishes, just to be at a good level.
I know that today
people no longer invest a lot of money in weddings.
I know it is normal.
However,
when we are invited, we eat well and we drink well.
And when it is your turn to invite,
pretending simpleness,
don't you find it disgraceful?
You don't understand anything. Why don't you understand?
Listen,
in old times, the bride was welcomed by the entire family.
Now, she simply is the son's wife.
Michiko is not coming to live with you,
she comes to marry Hatsuji.
So, instead of trying to show off...
Right, I stop.
You'll never understand.
Actually,
don't you want to see Toyo again?
I'll organise the meeting.
See her for what?
Why?
Don't you want to talk to her?
No.
Is it like that, then?
What?
You know.
She was your first wife. You didn't hate each other.
Go see her then!
She wants to see you.
Here.
what...
do you smoke now?
Yes.
Since when?
It doesn't matter.
If people were like you, wanting to do all they want,
It would be heaven on earth.
Why do you envy me?
You shall just imitate me.
Stop playing the suffering victim.
I'm not enjoying it.
I'm going to tell you:
For me too, life is not easy.
Actually, Yae,
Hatsuji's bride, does she have a sewing machine?
A machine?
Dai bought one.
My daughter and my wife want one.
But actually,
if the bride brings one, it would be a big waste!
Do you want me to ask her if she has one?
It's your role as intermediary.
Listen brother,
if I ask such a thing
her mother will feel forced to bring one.
These days, everyone has a machine.
But I want to be sure.
Brother...
What if you'd delay the wedding?
Why?
Michiko's family is busy with the corn and with the glow-worms.
She would prefer the autumn.
No way!
We are also busy. We need her immediately.
Right, what date were you thinking about?
Since you have no money,
a delay would arrange you, don't you think?
Imagine if they were in a hurry. You would feel quite bad.
I'm going to call Mr Okawa.
To tell him that we agree.
He will communicate it.
Do you want some?
It reminds me of my childhood.
We only find it at parties.
My village is small compared to here.
People know everything, even the newly born kittens.
Even if my mother agrees,
my father would fear the gossiping.
How can we convince your father, then?
My mother is the only one that could.
A part from her, I can't think of anyone else.
And you, with your father?
It's impossible.
He even refuses to talk about it.
But still! Do you think it will be ok?
Yes, aunt Yae is on our side.
I count on my mother.
And you, on your aunt.
We are not very audacious.
However, we are the ones concerned.
Not bad.
The good ones slept here. Now they go back to their homes.
I see.
We could put a ladder here.
Yes, they would have an independent entrance.
Okawa too, she likes the place.
It's really good.
I let you organise everything.
You can count on me.
The second son, is he at the Sogo bank?
Shinji?
He often comes here to eat with a girl.
It's the girl from the junior section.
- Can she be Hamako? - Yes, it's her!
They go out together?
So? Do you like her?
Yes, very much.
I count on you.
No, for what concerns management, I can't say much.
Men are bigheaded!
They say so, but they supervise.
We must leave Yae.
There is no hurry.
- Are you going to the party? - No.
This kimono fits you well.
Don't let him say that.
That's how he flirted with me.
But it truly is very nice. Is it new?
No, just altered. But it was worth it.
You got better.
Did I change?
The truth is...
that your look stunned me when we met again.
You were aggressive, without sweetness.
I came with my mother-in-law and the son.
It's normal.
This obstacle made you more beautiful.
May be.
I'll play tennis again, as I once did.
Tennis? It's old fashioned!
I'm going to pass my driver's licence.
Are you going to drive?
He will invest in a driving school.
He senses all good businesses.
Exactly.
Actually, it's time for my lesson.
I'm going to change.
Okawa is late.
Are you ok?
Here he is!
Are you going out?
It's my driving lesson.
Please.
Leave it.
See you later.
Hey!
Come here!
Look at what you did!
It's not somerone else's field!
I wanted the ox to rest a bit.
What?
It doesn't stop us from working well.
Big brother...
I want to live in Tokyo.
How?
I want to open a garage in Tokyo.
Here, I work in the fields for nothing.
Since I will not inherit any of it.
Take this, it's the last leek.
I'll bring some next time.
OK.
Bring some spinach as well.
You take advantage of me.
Stay a bit longer.
Take the last bus.
Let's see...
If you want, I can stay and eat with you.
Shall I beg you?
You paid the cinema. I owe you this.
Stay after dinner.
There is nothing that urges.
- Agree? - How?
Sleep here.
Tonight?
Agree?
No, I go back. Next time.
- Next time? - Yes, I promise.
Ok. Promise me.
Stay tonight.
Please, say yes.
And my parents, think about them.
What will I say to them?
I take care of it.
- They will not listen to you. - Of course they will.
They will listen to me.
You think?
- So... - Do you stay?
It's me.
Good evening!
Are you cooking?
I went through hell!
All of this just to have free movies.
I cook and I clean!
Do you eat with us?
- Stay! - Ok.
Do you have an errand to run in the city?
No, for business.
As day worker.
Day worker?
Dad is working like crazy to find some money.
I have to help him.
A daily work... It's paid 700 yen for ten ares.
It's a good idea.
It's ready. I'm leaving.
You don't eat with us?
The bus is waiting for me.
In a day,
you can work 40 ares.
If it is well done, 30 ares maximum.
You would make 2,100 yen a day.
But it's seasonal.
It's true.
Goodbye. I'll come back.
Bye!
For whom are you going to work?
For Suzuki in Kuwata.
He's going to recommend me to others.
If you want, I'll speak to my clients abou it.
Yes, please.
- And your ox? - I'll leave it to Suzuki.
It works out well.
You will not be able to go back every evening.
If you want to, you can stay with me.
Thanks, but I found a place.
I don't know where it is, but I'll be better off here.
No, thank you, I have what I need.
Do you know the Chitose?
Of course.
The manager is one of my clients.
How do you know?
Through aunt Yae.
You did invite Hamako there.
I saw Yae at the cinema today.
We met at the ticket booth.
She was with a man.
Mr Okawa!
Definitely.
Is she going out with this Mr Okawa?
Why not!?
She changed lately.
It's better for her and for her family in law.
You are right.
Actually, I'll stay at the Chitose.
I'll stay at the Chitose.
- Is that true? - Why would I lie?
But it's luxury.
It's not luxury.
I'll sleep in the courtyard.
On top of the storage room.
Will you live there?
With Michiko.
Who's she?
My future wife.
Don't forget her name.
Explain me a bit.
I'll tell you everything.
Dad is desperately looking for some funds.
At the rate things are going, we'll never celebrate our marriage.
So I prefer to move in together immediately.
It's better for Michiko as well.
Rather than live at our own homes.
You'll need to work a lot.
As you say.
Did you talk to your father out it?
You understand me.
You are very brave.
Your fiancé, does she agree?
Of course.
You know, I owe a lot to aunt Yae.
You took the right decision.
I agree.
Bring your fiancé, so we can celebrate.
Around some nice saké.
You offered some to dad the other day. He was happy.
Was he?
Invite him sometimes.
He likes that so much! He can't have it at home.
Poor father!
He had a tough dad, he has a strong wife.
And now, his children walk out on him.
He got old all of a sudden.
When I see him like that, I feel obliged to listen to him.
However, if we were to obey him like before,
we wouldn't manage financially.
At last...
even Jun decided to leave.
It seems so.
Today's youngsters are courageous.
At our times, it was unthinkable.
It's true.
Your husband agrees then.
Yes, but he's not enthusiastic.
We can only resign himself.
Absolutely.
As agreed upon with Yae, officially...
...Michiko is my employee, understood.
I count on you.
It will be a simple wedding.
it's sad for them.
Yes, it is.
I'm ashamed of him.
Why is that?
Daily worker for the farmers!
So what?
A daily job, it brings good money!
Lucky man, he has the time to work somewhere else.
What do you mean, "lucky man"?
We need money.
Work well, ox!
I'll go with you. I want to work a big field.
It will change from the small parcels.
You'll be quicker than me.
You were the winner at the exam.
Maybe I'll beat you.
I'll do the parts where the ox does not go.
I prefer to work outside.
In two, we'll be very efficient.
Tell me...
It seems that my mother was thrown out because she was incompetent.
She wasn't working quickly enough.
It's not my father that got rid of her.
It's my grand father.
This story, do you know it well?
At the time, I was just born.
I heard it from my mother.
Do you want me to tell you?
It was winter.
Your father's father...
Your grandfather, then,
he said:
"Toyo, tomorrow morning, you go back home."
He told her that.
With no other explanation.
That night, my mother
in your father's arms
asked him: "Why must I go back home?"
And your father replied: "I don't know."
The morning after,
my mother was going to clean the kitchen after breakfast.
But your grandfather pushed her to go away.
After that, no more words were spoken.
My mother thought
that she had to go back to work.
Nobody accompanied her, she left home
and went the town, then to the harbour,
she went through the Sagami bay.
From there, she walked alone for 4 km, until Yashiro.
During her walk, she remembered
that she forgot to kiss you.
And she started crying.
It's all in the past.
As you say.
It will not happen to us.
Of course not!
Hey, both of you, come here!
Why?
No questions. Come.
Come in.
Tonight, you'll sleep here.
Come on! Move!
Take control of things.
With your young wife.
Here, our duty is over.
We have no more reasons to see each other.
It's not too bad.
We'll be able to meet more freely.
Really?
Are you serious?
He's not that strong.
Let's let him rest.
We'll fill in.
But we won't rest.
Right then!
Working hard!
Good morning!
To be a daily worker, you work properly.
But the actual owners don't understand him.
It's not rewarding.
What nice flowers!
- For what is it? - They're nice!
It's the anniversary of my husband's death...
instead of the ceremony.
Ah, it's for that, then!
But it's a huge bouquet.
I never bought so many.
My mother-in-law only buys artificial ones.
But this year she's not here.
I wanted them since thirteen years.
My uncle will be very happy.
This memorial,
I'll do it the way I want it each year.
I was too young to have met your husband.
What kind of man was he?
What kind of man?
For you, was he good?
Let's hear that.
Truly, a good husband.
I would only say one thing:
I loved him.
It was short...
We had a really short life as a couple.
But I loved him with all my heart.
I do not regret anything of that time.
I'm going to decorate Buddha's altar with these flowers and pray for his soul.
I'm sure he prefers to see me happy rather than sad.
It is the first time in thirteen years that he'll see me happy.
I see you pity yourself.
It's your fault. You talk to me about these flowers.
It's normal, such a bouquet!
That is so.
Ah, the meeting is fixed for the 23rd,
Is it ok for you to come?
And what do we need to care about?
You shall take advantage of the opportunity.
Given that your parents will meet at your house.
My role, is simply to inform you.
I bought stuffed bread.
Mother!
It's time!
There is soldering, the metal manufacture and the maintenance.
I'll learn the maintenance.
How many years for this school?
One year.
And the costs?
1,000 yen per month.
Times twelve, it's 12,000 yen.
If it's about that much...
The school is ok.
It's the room that costs.
The room?
Do you need it?
Good morning!
What's going on today?
Everyone is gathered here.
At Hatsuji's, it was busy.
The have stuff to tell each other.
On the bus,
my brother was shocked.
Imagine!
Seeing his ex wife after 30 years!
A marriage in small steps...
These youngsters are really brave.
Without asking for our advice.
They are impossible.
If I understood correctly, Michiko said
that Hatsuji lives here and goes to work at the village as a daily worker.
I really don't understand the youngsters anymore.
They are better off than us at their age.
You got older.
You are all white.
I didn't have an easy life.
The same for me.
I lost my son during the war.
Did you have a son?
Yes, he was the eldest.
The factory where he was working was bombarded.
I have my two daughters left.
You, with three sons, it must be hard.
Your second is employed, that's good.
But what will you do with your third one?
About Jun?
His future is ensured. He will inherit one hectar.
But...
Doesn't the reform forbid that?
But I'm clever.
I reserved a land next to mine.
How?
The one from the young branch!
At Dai's, my brother in law.
He only has one daughter.
If we marry her to Jun, the trick is done.
I look senile,
but I take good care of my sons' future.
The rent is 80,000 yen per year.
The school fees, 35,000 yen.
120,000 yen in total.
The problem is the rent.
You can commute!
With the train, it's possible.
But it would be pointless.
I want to prepare my future.
If I want to do that, I need to leave.
In this case, you must sell one field.
Tell me.
Where is Yae?
She left by car with the boss.
By car?
My boss passed her driving licence.
- The driving licence? - She just got it.
She must be having fun.
Yae is learning with her.
What, Yae?
It's nonsense!
She is so stupid!
Don't say that.
A peasant woman doesn't need to drive.
Yes she does. She needs it for her job.
She needs her licence.
We must learn everything these days.
Yae is too curious.
Her mother in law is in Tokyo.
So she takes advantage of it.
Make up, cigarettes...
And now, the car.
Atsugi Train Station
Why are you going there!
It's too hot to go.
It's chilly.
On the lake, it is very chilly.
Yes.
The wheat harvest is starting.
I'll have no more time to go out until the rice transplanting.
I see.
I leave you then.
See you.
I won't disturb your brother and Toyo.
Please.
See you.
Let's now talk about our children.
They won't keep living here.
We must find a good place.
I was against them moving here.
Therefore,
we could renovate the storehouse.
The storehouse...
I'll take care of the house where they're going to live in.
Even if it's not splendid,
I bought an old house.
Did you buy it?
"To buy", is a big word.
I kept a land for my son.
But since he died,
I thought about giving it to Michiko.
Did you build on it?
I'll pay for the dismantling,
and the transportation of the house.
You'll give the land.
I have one but not very big.
But it will be good enough.
Perfect.
I didn't hear well.
I moved to Tokyo.
The time to train my successor,
I'll be gone in three weeks.
Which was your favourite dish?
Will you stay for dinner?
We won't eat late.
I'll go buy something.
What do you like?
At the time, we didn't have the right to say our preferences.
It's true.
We had to eat whatever they gave us.
We couldn't even say that it was good.
They never let me take a knife.
I was assigned to the scullery to wash the vegetables and bring water.
I was the cook ring collector,
and of all the dishes after the meal.
The rest of the time, I was in the fields.
I never cut a radish, nor I ever cooked a sardine.
It's normal if I don't remember.
Two years of common life, you never tasted my cooking.
It's true.
Shinji's mother, was it the same?
And Otane?
It was the same with her,
for the first ten years.
For me, it went on
for eight years in Hambara.
The first radish I cut,
it was on the evening when my mother-in-law died.
I didn't know how to cut them.
Our old neighbour laughed about it.
He was making fun of my inexperience.
There is more.
It's only Tokyo.
People from here always commute.
It's fine for you, but not for your wife.
I will not move.
No point in lying.
Be honest with me.
In your case, it wouldn't matter who goes to Tokyo.
I won't move.
At the headquarters, it's calm.
I'll have fixed working hours.
I'll be able to take vacations.
But you will no longer be someone from here.
You'll only come back to sleep.
You will be from Tokyo.
You're talking nonsense.
It's not logical.
I belong to Yokohama's office. I'm therefore from Yokohama.
It's not like that!
You are not from Yokohama, you are someone from the city.
Your life is wherever you live and work.
Everything will change.
You'll be from Tokyo.
Here, will only be your sleeping room.
Don't go there.
In Tokyo or here,
nothing will change for me.
Don't be picky.
Why do you say that?
Because I'm sad.
I can't follow you.
Let's go around with the boat.
No.
On the river, it's chilly.
No.
Do what I ask you to do.
Bring me to Tokyo, right now.
At the office district, in front of the newspaper company.
Your newspaper company.
Is that too hard?
Otane, look over there!
Are you talking about Hamako?
Look at this. What a beautiful girl she became!
She knows men.
That's impossible!
Otane, are you blind?
At your age, don't you know how to look?
I don't believe it.
Shall I replace you?
We must talk again about Jun.
It's a no.
Jun, I take care of it.
Don't worry about him.
He really wants to leave.
It's nonsense!
First of all, with what money?
It would be enough...
to sell one field.
Are you crazy?
Times have changed.
We don't have any fields to sell!
We have too little land to make him a peasant.
It's better if he studies.
I have other children.
If I sell, what will the others live of?
You'll loose half of your fields,
but it doesn't matter.
Hatsu.
Maybe I'm out of fashion.
For you that made a modern wedding,
I look like an old wreck.
But believe me.
As father, I know what I'm doing.
Hatsu!
I will never be,
a peasant with no land.
It doesn't make sense. It has never been seen anywhere.
For as long as I'll live,
do not talk to me about selling ever again.
Never again!
Is that clear?
Everything is fine!
He is not thinking about leaving you.
He will come visit you from Tokyo.
It's not the problem.
You don't understand anything.
You still love him, right?
He will move, so what?
Same for me.
For example, when a man is ill,
they forbid me to visit him.
I have to resign.
Tell me, Chie.
The happiness we want,
do you think it is not normal?
The truth is that our life is not ordinary.
We suffer from things that normal people ignore.
Come here, please.
I'm going to see my clients.
We'll drink later. Stop worrying.
Can you come up to our home?
I'm tired.
I want to go back and sleep.
Tomorrow is the transplanting.
I wanted to talk to you about Jun.
Does he want to go to Tokyo?
Try to convince my father.
I'm for it.
But your father will never sell.
I always say what I think.
But this time...
Without land, a peasant loses his soul.
Imagine yourself as head of the family.
Would you allow anyone to sell everything you own?
Wake up.
What's going on?
It's serious.
What do you want at this time?
Please, come!
Hamako, what does she have?
Are you not talking? Come on, explain me!
She is pregnant.
What?
She's going to have a baby!
Idiots!
You are weak.
So she took advantage of you.
I've never seen such stupid parents!
You are more than stupid.
Oh, yes, we are stupid!
We should have watched over our daughter!
But you, you're not any better.
What?
It's your son that made her pregnant. Didn't you see anything?
My son?
Which one?
Shinji!
Shinji?
I can't believe it!
Hamako, where is she?
- I'm going to interrogate him. - She is at Shinji's house.
How are you going to take care of this?
People will talk.
My daughter Hamako should have married Jun.
Isn't it?
Tell me.
You are not giving her two husbands, I hope!
Dad!
What do you want?
Mom invites you to drink the evening sake.
Really?
I'm coming.
Tell me then,
are you learning how to drive?
I stopped.
Chie still drives?
Absolutely.
I have no time to see her at the moment.
Her man is very smart.
He succeded in all his businesses.
Transport, cinema, restaurant...
How old do you think he is?
He's two years older than you.
But you look ten years older.
To earn a lot of money, makes you younger.
It's the opposite.
It's because he's young in his spirits that he becomes richer.
It's not that I want to get old.
You can say as you like,
everything happens as you want.
For Hatsuji's house,
I'll give the beans field.
Good.
I wasn't the one deciding.
He decided by himself.
Without asking me for advice.
His wedding, it's the same.
He wants to do it after the construction of the house.
And the ceremony,
he'll do it at the village hall.
He is inviting all his friends.
There will be loads of people, then!
I don't want to get involved, but...
I don't understand anything anymore.
When I asked about the costs,
he told me that every guest will pay a participation fee.
Really?
And that's not all, Yae.
Shinji and Hamako will marry at the same time.
Since the guests are the same,
he says that it will be more fun.
And Hamako, what has she done?
It's simple.
She aborted without hesitating.
Really?
These youngsters, they only follow their own head.
We have no right to say anything anymore.
You were right.
Old people are thrown at sea.
I don't know what to do anymore.
I count on you to explain me.
Don't count on me.
Why?
I lost my self confidence.
What? But you are always so sure of yourself...
Not anymore.
I'm drunk.
Take a hold on yourself.
You are my only support.
I've also been drinking,
but I tell you clearly.
I'm old, but I'm not finished.
I'll never give up, even if they keep hounding me.
As long as I will be alive, they will not get
my fields.
Hamako was lucky!
She was admitted thanks to a withdrawal.
She'll get in for the second quarter.
A husband which is a bank employee,
a wife which is a student...
It's frequent this days.
Its seems so, yes.
Where did she enrol?
Domestic science.
With her diploma, she'll be able to work for the Prefecture.
Now that I think of it, give me my kimono back. Hatsuji won't need it.
It's not urgent. I'll come back.
What a nerve! Times really changed.
Good morning.
It's the inspector.
Good morning.
- Good morning. - The weather is nice.
I brought the contract. Do you have some time?
Why postpone...
It's true.
I need your seal, the legal one.
And your mother in law, is she always in Tokyo?
Yes.
She takes care of her sick grandchild.
What illness does he have?
It seems that he has a nephrosis.
A nephrosis?
Count well, just to be sure.
It's half of it, for the moment.
You should put them at the bank.
It's not for me.
It's true.
Place your seal here.
You sign here.
And here.
As it should be.
Bill of sale for a parcel of land
It's only a paper.
It's to give you the balance.
I'm only the intermediary.
But I'll do my best to speed up the formalities.
The field is well entertained and fertil.
I've already done the transplanting. It's worth a bit more.
Don't start again.
You should have said it before!
I can't help it.
Here, it's done.
Thanks for everything.
At your service.
See you later.
Goodbye.
Tell me...
You did it for Jun.
It must hurt.
But you were brave.
Good morning!
So, are you going to Tokyo?
I left a little present for you.
Thank you.
Your father decided.
He gave up in front of Jun's determination.
Not only Jun.
You were all accomplices.
Go comfort our dad once in a while.
Our mother screams at him.
And the girls don't listen to him.
Don't worry about him.
You did well convincing him.
But actually,
he doesn't feel ignored or rejected.
He faces directly the wind of changes.
Even more than your brothers.
Did he tell you something?
He just said:
"I suffer a lot.
"But I have to accept. That's life."
Azabu, in Tokyo?
It's a good location.
A friend looked for me.
Is your wife already there?
Yes, she is starting to order things.
She is late.
Did she tell you she was coming?
THE END
Subtitles: Fra & Mars