Ototo - This moving film, about the
force of familial obligations in an authoritarian, patriarchal household during
the Taisho period, is one of Kon Ichikawa’s personal favorites, and possibly one
of his greatest films.
It's the story of a dedicated young woman, Gen, who must tend
to the needs of her brother Hekiro, father, and stepmother. The film focuses
more on Gen, the daughter in the family, and her forced role as the caretaker of
the family due to the manipulation of her cold-hearted, invalid
stepmother. Though the familial relationships are visibly strained, Gen
wills herself as the glue that keeps them together even forsaking a domestic
married life to do so. It's not until Hekiro becomes ill with tuberculosis that
the family is able to come back together as a unit.
Also features an early acting role by a young Juzo Itami who
would later go on to direct the modern classics ‘A Taxing Woman’ and
‘Tampopo’.
Director: Kon Ichikawa
Stars: Keiko Kishi, Hiroshi Kawaguchi and Kinuyo
Tanaka
1960 – JAPANESE with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES - COLOR - 16:9
ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - 98 MINUTES
