Kazoku
Where Spring Comes Late
- Release Date
- October, 24th, 1970
- Running Time
- 106 min
- Genre
- Feature
- Color
- -
- Screening Format
- -
[ Directed by ]
[ Cast ]
[ Staff ]
- YAMADA Yoji ── Original Story
- YAMADA Yoji ── Screenplay
- MIYAZAKI Akira ── Screenplay
[ Production Company ]
SHOCHIKU
[ Distributor (Japan) ]
SHOCHIKU
[ Story ]
It is April. On a small island near Kyushu, western Japan, lives a coal mining family. When the company of Seiichi (Hisashi Igawa), the husband, goes bankrupt, he makes up his mind to leave the island and move to reclaimed land in Hokkaido. There he intends to start a new life with Tamiko (Chieko Baisho), his wife, Genzo (Chishu Ryu), his father, Tsuyoshi, his three-year-old son and baby daughter Sanae.
They start out, filled with expectations and fears and stop at the home of Tsutomu (Gin Maeda), Seiichi's brother. They have intended to ask Tsutomu to take charge of the old father, because they fear the severe weather in Hokkaido may be bad for his health. However, upon finding that Tsutomu is leading a poor life, they decide to take their father with them.
At Tokyo, Sanae becomes sick from fatigue and dies. The family continue their trip, with the baby's ashes.
Finally they reach snow-covered Hokkaido. After settling in their new house on reclaimed land, they have a small party to celebrate the end of their long journey. At night, however, the exhausted Genzo dies peacefully. The death of their father is the last shock for the married couple. But Tamiko encourages her disappointed husband, telling him that the spring is near.
Spring comes late in Hokkaido and it is June, when the grass is green and the flowers are in full bloom and Tamiko confesses she is pregnant.
【Quoted from Unijapan Film Quarterly 1971 14.1】
[ 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
