THE MUNEKATA SISTERS
[MUNEKATA KYÔDAI] [宗方姉妹]
Made for the upstart Shintoho studio in 1950, THE MUNEKATA SISTERS is one of the few films Yasujirō Ozu directed outside his home studio of Shochiku. It has long been one of the more difficult titles to see in his oeuvre, though it is a masterpiece on par with his most celebrated titles. Sisters Setsuko (Kinuyo Tanaka) and Mariko (Hideko Takamine) could not be more different: the dutiful and tradition-minded Setsuko works tirelessly running a bar to support herself and her alcoholic, out-of-work husband. Younger sister Mariko is independent and happily unmarried, free-thinking and modern in her outlook on life. When Hiroshi (Ken Uehara), Setsuko's great love from her youth, returns from living abroad in France, Mariko attempts to reunite him with her sister. DIR/SCR Yasujirō Ozu; SCR Kōgo Noda, from the novel by Jirō Osaragi; PROD Hiroshi Higo, Hideo Koi. Japan, 1950, b&w, 112 min. In Japanese with English subtitles. NOT RATED
AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 112 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, June 08, 2024
Genre: Drama