Release Date

September, 15th, 1954

Running Time

155 min

Genre

Feature

Color

Monochrome

Screening Format

-

Screen Size

Standard (1:1.37)

Sound Processing

-

[ Directed by ]

• KINOSHITA Keisuke

[ Produced by ]

• KUWATA Ryotaro

[ Cast ]

• TAKAMINE Hideko ── OISHI Hisako
• TSUKIOKA Yumeji ── MASUNO
• TAMURA Takahiro ── OKADA Isokichi

[ Staff ]

• KINOSHITA Keisuke ── Screenplay
• KUSUDA Hiroyuki ── Photography
• KINOSHITA Chuji ── Music
• NAKAMURA Kimihiko ── Production Design

[ Production Company ]

Shochiku (Ofuna)

[ Distributor (Japan) ]

SHOCHIKU

[ Story ]

A chronicle of the emotional bond between a young schoolteacher – a new arrival to the island of Shodoshima – and her twelve students, set against the transitional period of the wartime years. Kinoshita was inspired by Jean Renoir's The River (1951) to make a conscious departure from his typical directing style, juxtaposing the island's unchanging natural beauty with the tragedy of war, thus throwing the latter into stark relief. The film's emotionally resonant soundtrack comprised of children's songs and choral numbers proved a salve for a populace still exhausted from the ravages of war, cementing Kinoshita's reputation as a director of the people.

Written by KU Mina
Reference: National Film Archive of Japan screening program
Translated by Adam Sutherland

[ Film Festivals, Awards ]

2005 Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale Special

[ Contact (International) ]

SHOCHIKU CO., LTD.
International Sales & Licensing
Togeki Bldg., 4-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8422
tel: +81-3-5550-1623
fax: +81-3-5550-1654
E-mail: ibd@shochiku.co.jp
http://www.shochikufilms.com