Hourou-ki (1962)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Mikio Naruse

Writers:

Fumiko Hayashi (autobiography)
Kazuo Kikuta (novel)

Release Date:

29 September 1962 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Hideko Takamine	...	Fumiko Hayashi
Akira Takarada	...	Fukuya
Daisuke Katô	...	Nobuo Sadaoka
Keiju Kobayashi	...	Fujiyama
Kinuyo Tanaka	...	Kishi, Fumiko's mother
Mitsuko Kusabue	...	Kyoko Hinatsu
Noboru Nakaya	...	Haruhiko Itatsu
Yûnosuke Itô	...	Goro Shirasaka
Jun Tatara	...	Tamura
Masao Oda	...	Fumiko no chichi
Takeshi Katô	...	Uenoyama
Tomoko Fumino	...	Yasuko Murano
Natsuko Kahara
Chouko Iida
Yurika Benioka

Also Known As:

A Wanderer's Notebook
Drifting (Australia)
Lonely Lane

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Kyoto, Japan

Company:

Takarazuka Eiga Company Ltd.

Hi De Hideko

I've seen four films (None on DVD) of Hideko Takamine, three with director Mikio Naruse, and She certainly must have been one of the dominate Star's of Japanese film in her age. Going by the IMDb, She started in silent film in 29 and then did roughly a movie a year before retiring in 79.

Houroki-ki is a good film with a masterful performance from Takamine, She curls her body in a sensual pout whenever sizing up the situation, determined to rise above it even as She feigns not caring. Naruse's work is steady and intelligent and here the film never quite falls into "soap opera", as some of Takamine's vehicles seemed too.

I really recommend this one and "The Four Chimneys;" it's about time more

was known in the West of the impressive Ms. Takamine.