In partnership with: Hiroshima Railways, Toyo Industry, Yamaha, Hitachi,
Osaka Airlines, Toa Airlines
Participant of XIX Art Festival
Production of KINDAI-EIGA
MOTHER
Producers: Hisao Itoya, Setsuo Nota,
Tamotsu Minato, Eisaku Matsuura
Director of photography: Kiyomi Kuroda
Composer: Hikaru Hayashi
Calligraphy: Taro Okamoto
Starring:
Nobuko Otowa
Haruko Sugimura Taiji Tonoyama
Koji Takahashi, Yoshitaka Zushi, Seiji Miyaguchi, Kei Sato, Takeshi Kato
Tejiji Takechi, Mayumi Ogawa, Kahoru Matsukawa,
Kakuko Matoyama, Yasuko Yokoyama
Screenplay and director: KANETO SHINDO
Mrs. Yoshida!
Please.
Does he drink a lot?
Very much! 2-3 glasses at once.
I see. Often goes to toilet?
Yes, 5-6 times per night.
Sees nothing?
A little bit.
Do you see this picture?
Blurry...
And how long has he been like that?
For two months now.
Hmm... Seems like a brain tumor.
I'm almost sure.
What is that?
Probably, it is accrementition inside brain.
We have to make a roentgenogram.
Lights... many lights...
Why are there so many lights?
They are just glittering in front of me...
Just like small fireflies...
...they just flash and disappear. Again and again.
Mama.
Going to Okayama?
Where would you get money?
I'm not a magician who can make it appear in my palm.
We need money by all means, it's the only way to save him.
At Okayama Medical College works the best doctor in all of Japan.
The doctor did a roentgenogram today.
He said that it is definitely a brain tumor.
The only way to save Toshio is to get to Okayama College.
Should it be a difficult case, no doctor can help.
It is the same as throwing money away.
So what, must I say to Toshio "just die already"?
This is a child of Oomori family, let them handle it on their own.
Why did you leave Fukuoka?
In Oomori family all the other women help themselves.
You are the only fool who can't.
In your situation you should be nicer to them.
I don't want to make up to anyone, so I came back.
You can't keep a baby - you shouldn't have become a mother!
You had a defiant behaviour from the very beginning.
And after Yoshiki's death, you agreed to marry Mitida.
Were you accepted into this house all Mitida's possessions would be yours.
Satisfied now that you left?
All your misfortunes are from whims and bad temper!
Now Oomori don't trust you and are certain you had the baby with another man.
But you've also left your father?
I didn't leave your father. I cast the bastard out.
From such a woman any man would have ran away.
Now I regret I haven't killed that bitch that time,
She cheated father.
When father left,
he left us more than 200,000 yen.
That was my money.
And I got only 30,000 yen.
You fool! This is my money, I paid for Haruo's education with it.
And now they are all gone.
Why else would I leave a good house and move into this shack.
Whom for did I watch every coin...
Haruo!
Where were you all this time?
You never do anything useful! An idler just like his father.
You can go to Okayama or anywhere else.
But get the money for the treatment on your own.
Maybe you should marry again and your husband would pay for you?
Sounds right, marry and he'll pay.
But...
Long-long time ago...
When Mother was still young...
It was a hot day... A part of here body was exposed...
And so, she seemed like an animal seeking for life.
Hey! Come over here.
You are looking for me, right?
No!
No...
I have 3 children overall...
Elder Toshio for now is an engine driver assistant at Kasaoka station.
Younger brother Haruo works in a big architecture bureau.
And since my husband joined Fukuyama police,
we gave our house in Hiroshima for state office.
In a school she was good in volleyball,
she used to be a class monitor.
His grades were never less than "A".
She was magnificent with calligraphy.
Tamiko's works still are presented in the school.
I'm not hiding anything. It's her first husband.
He's our far relative from Inoshima landlords family.
He was a junior lieutenant on the navy and during the last year of the war...
...his ship was sunk by an American submarine.
If only he was alive...
There, all Tamiko's misfortunes started.
This is her second husband.
He is a civil engineer and now he works somewhere in Fukuoka.
He had a boy from the first marriage...
When he went to the second grade of high school she left the Mitida family.
And though she decided not to marry ever again,
it is almost impossible for a young woman to live on her own.
Because the woman's happiness lies within a man.
I've also been through a lot.
To join Oomori family for me seemed like a miracle.
I gladly agreed on this proposal,
but now I understand that the first impression can be wrong.
He was a heartless man.
He drank a lot and spent money on races.
He was very hot-tempered and often used his fists.
He swung even on children.
Oh, please drink what you want. It is so hot today.
Help yourself.
Tamiko! Wait, we need to talk.
Wait. Listen to me.
Come on. Wait for me.
Hey! Wait!
He said that if you marry him he pays for the treatment.
Everything would be OK in time.
You will be OK...
I don't care if he is good or not!
Besides he already has a child.
Yes, a girl. She is in 3rd elementary grade. So what?
Oh, come on... You'll get used.
I'll run away from him anyway.
You could have all you want with him.
Think, you've been married two times already.
And you have your hands full with a baby.
You can't say when you'll get such a chance.
I feel like trash being thrown out in a paper bag.
His paper bag are not for trash. They are for sweets and other goods.
It could be a small business, but it brings money.
This baby is a burden for you.
Tamiko, it is all for the child.
And if you got kicked in the stomach? Or fall from a staircase?
He said he'll pay for the treatment.
I should have killed them.
You'll learn the true value of this man.
It is a mistake to miss such a chance.
Yes, his face isn't very attractive but he has a kind heart.
Mother, enough of this!
Stop!
I understand why father left you.
You'll waste two more years,
you hormones will surge up,
and you'll finish with hysteria.
When this baby just appeared in my stomach...
I wanted to get rid of him already.
I didn't want to bear Oomori's child.
That would take a month in a hospital to cure.
OK.
Than we shall do it like this.
Thank you!
Again, lights, lights.
You are loosing your mind.
All because you have no man.
Hold on, Toshio!
- Hello! - Hello.
Why have you left the school?
I can't afford it anymore.
But you have only a year left.
I have no money.
So what are you gonna do?
To earn money...
I want to start my own business.
And I work part-time at the airport.
And what kind of work is this?
At a warehouse.
Should be interesting.
Yeah, quite so. You should drop in some day.
Hello!
Should be great to watch the earth from above.
I haven't flown yet.
When you die you can see the people from the skies.
People look the same both from skies and from earth.
Passion... thoughts... targets... dreams... - all in plain sight.
Should be really great to watch people's world.
Who are you parents?
The are just farmers, they live in the mountains near Hiroshima.
You have Mom and Dad?
Yes, they both are alive though quite old.
People need their relatives.
And what about you?
How did the operation with your nephew go?
How do you know?
You told me yourself.
He has a brain tumor. He can't be healed.
I would never agree to such an operation.
What a hit for your sister...
I owe her.
How so?
I owe her...
Money?
No.
That morning we left home in a hurry, as we were late for the school.
So I was in a bad mood.
Why did I do that...?
It seemed like I took revenge on her due to being late.
My sister always loved me.
We have always played together.
And I kept abusing her love.
When I think about my poor sister.
I think it all started that morning. And my heart is bleeding.
I owe her.
We see tangible improvement, and now I'm less worried about the operation.
Thank you very much.
Operations on the brain are very dangerous.
It is very difficult to predict an outcome.
Next month we have a conference.
I would like to present Toshio's case there.
There I'm going to show the radiographs.
They show that the tumor is of ping-pong ball size.
It weighed on the eye nerve and thus blurred the vision.
That's why his eyesight got worse?
Yes, exactly. Yes, I think there shouldn't be a recurrence.
I'm so grateful for your help!
He should be OK in a month.
Do you see a mommy?
Yeah.
See clearly?
Not very.
It'll be better tomorrow.
You took it fine.
I got anesthesia, and it didn't hurt at all.
Really?
I heard nothing. Just like I was dead.
It is good that everything is all right.
I must give pleasure to this man.
Last night I was with him.
Don't know why but there was no pleasure.
Well, just like with all other men.
I felt no pleasure.
Maybe I'm too tired.
I slept with Mitida and with Oomori and it was all the same.
What is wrong?
Feeling bad?
No, I have to cook the meals.
Toshio, you must be hungry?
I'll get something quickly.
Mother!
Yes?
I want to go to school.
You'll stay here for a bit more and certainly go.
Mommy too...
she also wants you to go to school.
Main rule now - is to be careful.
I had a dream recently.
What dream?
White horsey galloped upside down.
It means you are getting better.
Toshio wants to run fast all by himself just like a horsey,
that's why you see such dreams.
Just upside down.
I'm back!
Welcome.
I'm so hungry.
I'm cooking now, soon we'll be eating.
I drew on a big sheet so they allowed me to take it home.
How beautiful!
- There is a whole castle here. - It's only a sketch.
- Show me, too. - Look.
Here.
So? Isn't it nice?
Yes.
I'll leave for a while.
Dinner is ready.
I'll be just a moment.
Here is all the delicacies - one plate for all.
Mother, won't you join us?
I'll eat later, when Dad is back.
There is a telegram from Kyushyu.
The woman wrote that father is in critical condition.
Father is dying?
He deserved it!
Let him end his days in an empty field on the edge of the world.
Mother, stop this!
No, I won't! Let everyone know!
Mother, we have to go.
Tamiko, your father dropped us!
We don't want to know him.
Dead or alive - it's not our concern.
Mother, Dad is dying.
We got a telegram.
THIS is what matters now.
We have to go.
You don't understand.
Of course I do, Mother.
Probably they've sent it on purpose.
She is so cunning.
Wants to drop all the troubles on my shoulders.
To go on the edge of the country,
to show off my humiliation. Great idea...
It is a punishment for them both! God has punished them!
Mommy, if you won't go than I'll go with Haruo.
Haruo goes nowhere.
Great, so I'll go by myself.
No one goes there.
Mother...
If he dies - how could we live without saying goodbye to him.
Father wanted to be with the ones he loves.
To do what you love - that's the way to rest in peace.
But for us and Mom
it has only brought more troubles.
Father tried to get rid of all this family involvement.
He ran away and didn't think of what sorrow would it bring us.
Have you forgiven us?
Yes, in our forties we need more love...
Frankly speaking, I think it was quite an act of courage of him.
At 19.30 from the 2 track dispatches
express train to Kagoshima.
We've got another telegram. Father is dead.
He had larynx cancer.
This spring he got worse.
He was in Beppu municipal hospital.
That woman in the hospital stayed with him all the time.
During his last days she often asked him to write to his relatives.
But he said: "Don't tell anyone".
We'll never learn the actual truth.
Has she organised the funeral?
Yes. There was a great ceremony in their garden.
That's how it is. Good then.
So what kind of person is she?
She is from a family of farmers that live not far from Beppu.
They still have a large farm there.
They say she went back to her parents.
I saw her for the first time but she seemed to me a good person.
She knows how to pretend.
Father was a good man.
And now he's gone.
I have to be in time for the 1PM train.
Brother, come to visit me.
I'll make it some day.
Is your son healthy now?
He is better, but he underwent such a difficult operation...
So, how is your life in a third marriage?
How can you ask about such things?
And why did your father leave home?
What was so special about that woman?
She has a small cafe in Fukuyama.
And her father died in the war.
Must be a beauty?
Yes, all the men kept admiring.
If he left family and police for her...
...it's real love.
I think that it was.
They didn't suit each other with your mom.
If not so, that woman would not have been able to take him away.
Compared to mom she's an angel.
Our house is small, we have to find a bigger one.
I'm fine here.
We can't spend all our life in one place.
We have a workshop nearby and it's convenient.
Will YOU be able to spend your life with me?
Don't leave me.
What was that?
Let's...
do this...
right now...
This man is my husband.
Mother.
Where did Mother go?
Well, what's wrong?
I've fallen into a ditch.
Are you hurt?
No.
Let's change into something else.
Toshio, you should be careful.
My vision is foggy, so I didn't see it.
What? Fog?
Where is it?
A bit in front of me.
Just like it was previously?
Yes and I see bad now.
It's a recurrence.
But doctor Koiguchi from Okayama has said that there won't be one.
He really thought so.
Even if we use the newest technologies
there always is a small chance for recurrence.
And what now?
Can't we do another surgery?
The success rate for the second operation is really low.
And it could turn lethal.
I won't operate.
So what, just sit and wait?
We shouldn't make him suffer more.
We better make his last days full of joy and happiness.
And how much does he have?
Mmm... about 3-4 months.
So what, just sit and wait for him to die?
You could turn these months into half a year.
Madam.
Doctor said a horrible thing.
But we have to ready ourselves somehow.
We have to check with local hospital.
We'll fight for each day.
I'm sorry to waste your money.
But they promised to heal him that time.
You have nothing to apologize for.
But it cost over 300,000 yen.
So what? We are all healthy and can earn even more.
And you've worked hard all the time too.
Great!
Again!
And that Okayama doctor too...
why promise if you don't know for sure.
Of his "there won't be a recurrence".
We threw out 300,000 yen.
Stop saying that.
Just bad luck.
Oh my, bad luck, you say...
Well. If we couldn't save him, nothing can be done.
I'll do anything for him to live one more day.
I want him to go to school.
To school?
School for blinds.
To go to school on the verge of death -
- that's nonsense.
Exactly because he is dying
he must go to school.
Mr.Tajima has spent already 300,000 yen.
And now you've got another problem.
Do you hate him that much?
Mother, why didn't you say that Mr. Tajima is a Korean.
You knew it.
So what?
Are you saying Koreans are not humans?
Now all the Koreans are citizens of Japan.
And that's all you can say.
And Tajima said "Take him to school".
Really?
Sister, take him to school.
Everyone has the right to live as they like.
So you say
that idiot Tamiko
has left the school without notice.
Really?
I learned about it when the monthly bills came.
And what did you spent my money on?
You don't care how difficult it is to earn it.
Haru, what's wrong?
It was inevitable.
What was inevitable?
I've followed your every whim.
I'd hoped you would become a great man once...
Why are you angry? I will earn money!
Sister, don't lose your heart.
Why did you drop out of school?
I felt I was just stealing that money.
It couldn't last more.
Maybe you should return to school?
You are Mother's only hope.
Mom wants me to be like them all.
And I don't want to.
So what will you do?
Work.
I'm worried about you.
You've said: "Everyone has the right to live as they like".
I said it mindlessly.
I married Tajima only to save my son...
Sister, your third husband seems to be a good man?
You see, every day I press on the switch 12 thousand times.
Really 12 thousand?
To earn 800 yen you have to work from 6 in the morning till 11 at night.
You get 24,000 yen per month.
We have no holidays.
Yes, everyone has the right to live as they like.
Goodbye.
Good luck!
Ito, read it out loud.
"We went to watch fireworks with Dad".
"There was a lot of people near the river and suddenly we heard thunder"
"Dad pointed at sky and suddenly there were..."
"very-very big flowers of chrysanthemum"
"Everyone started clapping their hands"
"and I thought if only Mom could see all this!"
"on a swing you... swing"
"from a mountain you... come down"
"Fire... burns"
"into the room you... go"
"Dad... come sooner"
"right... now"
"Kinuko went to the bathroom"
"give me a towel, please"
"on a mountain you climb"
"in a sea you swim"
Not so sharp!
Break!
Idiot! Watch your way.
Break!
Here, turn here!
I'll get you after the lessons.
Good.
"Birds sings..."
"Flower blooms..."
"Dog plays..."
"Cat sleeps..."
"River flows..."
"Cloud floats in the sky..."
You read well already.
I can read even better.
Yes, you read a lot.
When you go into second grade you could read anything you want.
Mom...
What?
I see worse and worse.
I almost don't see your face.
If you don't care for politics and economy you don't care for your life.
Money governs. And all the policy and ideology can go to hell.
Modern man should bear the solidarity.
Man even among the crowd remains lonely.
It is normal to rely only upon himself.
Man is weak.
Really? You say people are weaker now?
In terms of readiness for war maybe not.
About non-admission of war talks both Kremlin and White House.
What do you think?
What?... I don't know. I just want love.
I immediately see the weakling, that is.
However he puffs up he's a weakling, that is.
Can't weakness and strength coincide together?
You don't understand, that is. Weakling is a weakling in everything.
Right, but doesn't one who remains himself become stronger?
Even remaining himself, weakling is a weakling.
Fool is always a fool, that is.
And if a woman is weak?
Nothing could be done here.
Yes, you know what you say.
Welcome.
- Played golf ever? - Yes.
Hey, one beer.
Have you seen the searchlights on Kappu stadium?
No, we haven't.
We have no time for thing.
You've seen nothing than, that is.
Six towers with 108 lamps on each.
Do you know how much is it together? - 648!
Totally useless.
Very useful.
Clever people earn a fortune on TV shows.
Hey.
People became wheels of the engine of civilization.
They don't care about feelings now - eat, sleep, work, like a robot.
Only here, in a bar with a mug of beer you get the freedom.
Yes, we are being pulled here more and more.
And we are completely torn from family and society.
- Thank you. - All the best.
Let's go.
See you. Thank you.
- Hello. - Thank you.
Thank you very much.
What?
Nothing! Don't come here again.
Why have you come?
Hey, bastard! Got something against my girl?
Now he is completely blind.
You still want to bring him to school?
Yes. Because he wants it.
Madam, don't let him catch a cold.
Exhaustion will increase.
Be very careful.
Doctor, I think I'm losing my mind.
Why?
From time to time I feel like the lights flash in my head.
Headache?
Yes, like a drill tries to get inside.
It is of fatigue.
Toshio said that he wants to play on electric piano.
So what?
He does not have much time left, so I decided to buy it.
So what?
Mother, can you lend me some money?
I'm not some rich heiress.
All has its limits!
Look at me, don't you see?
I glue these paper bags for a piece of bread.
Wan to buy anything else, ask your Tajima.
Tajima has spent all his savings on hospital costs.
And even got some new debt.
If so you should understand that you have to lower you wishes.
Learn to live up to your salary.
Mother! But you got 100,000 yen, give me a bit of that money.
Don't count my money! That's for my funeral.
I have rights to the money too.
I'm also a member of the family.
You are married now, so you are not.
When I married,
I should have received a kimono as a dowry, and I didn't get it.
So I should prepare a kimono each time you marry?
Mother, give her some money!
I don't care for your opinion.
I don't need your money!
Good night!
Good night.
Will you come back?
I'll come back later.
In that case don't come back.
Would you lend me 2,000 yen?
OK. Come upstairs.
Oh, see who's come!
On business?
I've come for a second.
Here is 20,000 yen. Buy an electric piano.
Where did you get that money from?
Don't worry I haven't stolen it.
Spend freely, it's hard earned.
But you need it for yourself...
Don't waste time. Hurry to a shop.
Thank you, Haru!
Sister, people have to help each other.
But the piano costs 15,000 yen. I don't need that much.
The rest you can spend on yourself.
Haru, will you go with me to the shop?
Yes.
Here, it says the cost is 15,000 yen.
Right.
I'll buy it!
What?
That piano for 15,000 yen.
There...
That one.
Good.
Caw-caw. A crow has come.
Got a fruit from a persimmon tree...
to feed her children.
Caw-caw-caw. Flew back home.
Don't quarrel and play on turn.
- Yes. - OK.
Papa, you've come back.
Papa, we've bought an electric piano.
Where did you get it from?
Sorry for buying it without your permission...
Haruo gave us money.
And why do you need it?
Toshio said he wants to play.
And how much?
15,000 yen.
I'm very sorry.
Toshio, are you pleased?
It is an expensive instrument, play carefully.
I will.
I'll go and thank Haruo.
Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do...
Do-si-la-sol-fa-mi-re-do...
Sorry for the intrusion.
Ah, you came for finished bags?
No. I need to see Haruo.
Is he here?
Yes.
Think he is there on the boat.
Thanks.
Haruo.
Thank you very much.
Ah, you are talking about the money?
The children are very happy.
Really? That's great!
It is a great instrument! Thank you very much.
I'm very glad, Mr. Tajima.
I couldn't afford it myself...
...so I'm really grateful!
Caw-caw. A crow has come.
Got a fruit from a persimmon tree...
to feed her children.
Caw-caw-caw. Flew back home.
Well, keep quiet about it.
Filthy bastard!
Forgive him!
Sorry!
Thief!
Hey!
Hello.
How are you?
And you?
Is that a helicopter for an airing?
Yes, I do a maintenance for it.
I wish I could fly in it.
That's easy - only 500 yen for 30 minutes.
I agree. Will you go with me?
Are you serious?
Yes, I have the money.
Everything is fine with your work, it seems.
Sure.
Are you working in a bar?
Yes.
Interesting work?
I depend on no one there, face to face with people.
People are like bugs from such height.
All our lives are like a bubbles in an abyss.
That American who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima must have looked the same way on it.
He looked from the height of 570 meters. (In fact it's the height of detonation)
This is the place.
The man who makes a bomb must think of himself as God.
What are people? Beasts? Monsters?
Hey!
Caw-caw. A crow has come.
Got a fruit from a persimmon tree...
to feed her children.
Caw-caw-caw. Flew back home.
What a silly death...
What else did he long for? Such a waste of life!
Whom can I rely on now?
Father, you've dropped the family...
...and it all crashed apart.
Poor Haruo, seems he has lost the right way...
You took the wrong path.
It happens with many who haven't finished school.
I told you, you must go to University.
You can't be such an egoist!
Usually, when children grow up there are less problems with them.
I've always felt your life to be more important than my own.
Tamiko, prepare some tea, please.
Haruo was a good man.
Mother, come to us to Kasaoka.
I stay here.
Don't be so stubborn!
Here rests Haruo's soul.
And I want to stay here.
Tamiko, watch your Mom.
I will.
And I have no one to care about now.
Now I'm all alone.
And no one left!
Not a father... Not you...
Everyone left me.
I'm lonely and thrown by everyone.
Now I'm just a burden to all of you.
Little Haru, why did you die?
What a fool! You simply died.
And you'll never born again. Idiot!
Caw-caw. A crow has come.
Got a fruit from a persimmon tree...
That man...
...shouldn't I love him with all my heart?
Caw-caw. A crow has come.
That man must get inside me.
I must give him a child.
Dear...
Lock the door, please.
Toshio, hang on!
Toshio!
Toshio, hang on!
Toshio.
"Bird sings..."
"Flower blooms..."
"Dog plays..."
"Cat sleeps..."
"River flows..."
"Cloud floats in the sky..."
"Bird sings..."
"Flo...flower blooms..."
Toshio... Don't die!
Hang on!
Let's take him home.
He is very bad. Don't leave now.
Last night the doctor said he has a day left.
Let him die at his home!
At home we'll play piano and Sakiko will sing for him.
Good!
Tamiko!
Tamiko?
Toshio...
Caw-caw. A crow has come.
Got a fruit from a persimmon tree...
Caw-caw-caw. Flew back home.
Caw-caw...
Tamiko!
Never thought you'd lose your mind.
Tajima brought you with his hands, crying.
And you kept saying "lights". What lights?
Doctor said you're pregnant.
They are not sure if you should give birth.
One said anything could happen in such situation.
Another says it would heal you.
I will bear.
Maybe you'll think it over?
I will.
In such a situation I'm not sure that having another baby won't be a problem.
But till he grows up there will be a lot of troubles.
Mother, I'll bear.
Are you going to continue living with Tajima?
So what?
I never thought you'd live long with him.
I want to give Tajima a child.
I want to bear him and bring him up.
Mother...
I touch my stomach...
...and it fills me with such a pleasant thought.
As if my dead Toshio is inside me.
And Tajima is inside me too.
I'm a woman and can't do a lot.
But I can give life to another human.
"Bird sings..."
"Flower blooms..."
"Dog plays..."
"Cat sleeps..."
"River flows..."
"Cloud floats in the sky..."