From the BFI retrospective of the films of Mikio Naruse.
Hideko Takamine plays Mama-san, one of Tokyo’s bar-hostesses, a widow striving to maintain her dignity amid the sleaze of the Ginza bar district. She remains faithful to the memory of her husband, and supports her mother, brother and his son. Her gracious and courteous manner allows her to make a living, but the pressure to sell herself is unrelenting.
Her business is failing and she must decide whether to raise the money to buy her own bar or marry one of her admiring patrons. A truly heart-rending film, splendidly shot in Scope, with beautifully understated performances.
