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As a Wife, As a Woman
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Wikipedia article
is a 1961 Japanese drama film directed by Mikio Naruse.
Plot
Miho, mistress of married professor Keijiro, has been managing the Ginza bar owned by him and his wife Ayako for years, hoping that some day she might be made the owner as appreciation for her efforts. Instead, Ayako mortgages the bar for a new acquisition, leading to a conflict between the women. Keijiro avoids taking sides, continuing his affair with Miho. Encouraged by friends, Miho hires lawyer Minami to claim a severance pay. When her hope to win the case fades, she decides to fight for custody of Keijiro's children Hiroko and Susumu, who are her natural children, raised by Keijiro and the infertile Ayako as their own. In a final confrontation between Keijiro, Ayako and Miho, the children learn that Miho, who had always been introduced to them as their aunt, is their true mother. Hiroko scolds the adults for their insincerity, refusing to get involved in their schemes. Some time later, Hiroko has moved in with a student friend, disappointed with her parents. Miho, compensated with a small sum, plans to open a street food shop, while Ayako contemplates a divorce.
Cast
* Hideko Takamine as Miho Nishigaki
* Masayuki Mori as Keijiro Kouno
* Chikage Awashima as Ayako Kouno
* Yuriko Hoshi as Hiroko Kouno
* Kenzabur sawa as Susumu Kouno
* Tatsuya Nakadai as Minami
* Chko Iida as Nishigaki Shino, Miho's grandmother
* Keiko Awaji as Fukuko
* Chieko Nakakita as Toshiko Furuya
Production and release
The screenplay for 'As a Wife, As a Woman' was inspired by an actual court case. The film was released in Japan on May 30, 1961 and in the U.S. in a subtitled version in March 1962. It was presented again in the U.S. as part of a 25 films Naruse retrospective in 1985, organised by the Kawakita Memorial Film Institute and film scholar Audie Bock.
References
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