Four Masterpieces Filled with Mikio Naruse's Appeal
Mikio Naruse is one of the essential masters in Japanese film history. Pursuing quiet direction and realism, his portrayals of women's feelings and the subtleties of everyday life continue to captivate audiences across generations. This time, we focus on four of his signature works and explore the appeal and background of each. If you have never seen a Naruse film, why not take this opportunity to discover his cinematic world?
Postwar Love and Loss: Floating Clouds
Floating Clouds (1955) depicts love and despair between a man and a woman in postwar Japan. Its protagonists met during the war and, amid the chaos afterward, head toward ruin with a love they cannot escape. The complex performances by leads Hideko Takamine and Masayuki Mori are breathtakingly realistic. Naruse avoids extreme direction, gradually conveying the relationship and society's cruelty in a way that leaves a deep impression on viewers. Filled with a sense of postwar emptiness, this is one of his defining films.
The Quiet Collapse of Family: Sound of the Mountain and Flowing
Based on Yasunari Kawabata's novel, Sound of the Mountain (1954) carefully depicts aging and the collapse of a family. So Yamamura in the role of the father and the quiet constraints of the family surrounding him are beautifully expressed. Through Naruse's characteristic long takes and restrained direction, audiences quietly absorb the characters' loneliness and anxiety.
Flowing (1956), meanwhile, centers on women in the geisha world. The historical backdrop of the decline of the geisha districts intersects with the women's resilient ways of living, allowing Naruse's realism to shine. The natural performances of veteran actors in particular make the story feel like a documentary and draw audiences into it.
Economics and Women's Strength: Late Chrysanthemums
Late Chrysanthemums (1954) portrays economically independent women. In this film, Naruse skillfully depicts women living resourcefully even within a male-dominated society. Exchanges of gold bars and detailed portrayals of everyday life convey the characters' humanity and strength. Contemporary audiences, too, are likely to identify with these women, who are never idealized.
Mikio Naruse's films are all quiet, without overt dramatic flourishes. Yet within them lie truths hidden in everyday life and the resistance of the human heart. The four works introduced here, Floating Clouds, Sound of the Mountain, Flowing, and Late Chrysanthemums, are masterpieces filled with Naruse's aesthetics and realism. His films transcend their time and continue to speak to us about many things today. Take this opportunity to experience his masterpieces. You are sure to find something that resonates quietly within you.
(Some images and thumbnails in this article are illustrative images created using generative AI. Please note that they may differ from the actual subjects.)
