Description:

Mabuta no haha - Based on the novel by Shin Hasegawa. It is considered the most successful of several adaptations.

Best friends Chûtarô, and Hanji, are responsible for the murder of a gambler boss. The gangsters on their trail soon find Hanji's house and challenge him to a fight, but Chûtarô emerges from the shadows and kills them. Chûtarô then departs for Edo in search of his mother whom he has not seen since he was 5 years old. When at last he finds her she is resentful at his coming along and disturbing her life. She coldly tells him her son is dead, but even if he were to come back from the grave she wouldn't be overjoyed.

Regretting that he has ever met her, Chûtarô takes his leave, his dream since childhood of being reunited with his loving mother has been crushed. Shaken by this encounter, she relents her cynical attitude and attempts to catch up with him. Searching high and low, shouting out his name, but she cannot find him.

In fact, he knows she is there but hides himself. Why should he come out from hiding when all he has to do is close his eyes and remember the mother he has always imagined? He remains hidden until she gives up and leaves.

Director: KATO TAI

Stars: NAKAMURA KINNOSUKE, MATSUKATA HIROKI, OKAWA KEIKO

1962 - JAPANESE with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES - COLOR - 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - 83 MINUTES