Memories of Matsuko (2006)
"Kiraware Matsuko no isshô" (original title)

Shou's father Norio finds his son in a rather meaningless existence in Tokyo dominated by alcohol and porn videos. Having left home two years earlier to pursue life as a musician, Shou has ... See full summary »

Director:

Tetsuya Nakashima

Writers:

Tetsuya Nakashima (screenplay), Muneki Yamada (novel)

Stars:

Miki Nakatani, Eita, Yûsuke Iseya

11 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Miki Nakatani	...	Matsuko Kawajiri
Eita	...	Shô Kawajiri
Yûsuke Iseya	...	Yôichi Ryû (as Yusuke Iseya)
Mikako Ichikawa	...	Kumi Kawajiri
Asuka Kurosawa	...	Megumi Sawamura
Gori	...	Shûji Ôkura
Shinji Takeda	...	Onodera
YosiYosi Arakawa	...	Kenji Shimazu
Gekidan Hitori	...	Takeo Okano
Magy	...	Detective
Shôsuke Tanihara	...	Shunji Saeki
Takanori Takeyama	...	Vice-Principal
Masahiro Kômoto	...	Man with Stand on School Trip
Nagisa Katahira	...	Herself
Takuzô Kadono	...	Principal

Storyline

Shou's father Norio finds his son in a rather meaningless existence in Tokyo dominated by alcohol and porn videos. Having left home two years earlier to pursue life as a musician, Shou has left his band and his girlfriend has left him. His father asks a favor, that Shou clean out the apartment of his aunt Matsuko, who he says led a meaningless life until her murder at the age of 53. The apartment is filled with garbage bags and is even more unkempt than his apartment has become, and he becomes intrigued with his aunt as details of her life are supplied by a tattooed neighbor and others. Her feelings of neglect by her father Tsunehiro, who favored her chronically ill younger sister, Kumi, translated into becoming a dutiful junior high school teacher devoted to her students until being forced to resign after being blamed for the theft of some money by one of them. Leaving her family due to the disgrace, she had a series of affairs with lovers who physically abused her and did a stint as...

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Plot Keywords:

prison | murder | affair | teacher | theft | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

27 May 2006 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Conociendo a Matsuko

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amuse Soft Entertainment, Kiraware Matsuko no Isshô Seisaku Iinkai, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Kiraware Matsuko no isshô (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Here, Always"
Written by Takeshi Shibuya & Rin Oikawa
Performed by Tommy Snyder & Yoshika

User Reviews

not a comedy!!!

I have been really moved by this film, with such a level of perfection in narration, photography and musical technique... This movie is not a comedy, and Amelie Poulain seems under-classed by it. This movie is about changes in Japanese society, and the fate of those who think nothing has changed. Matsuko is craving the the role of the perfect Japanese girl (in charge of the mood of her estranged father), the perfect teacher (devoted to her student), perfect wife, perfect bar hostess, perfect prostitute, perfect Yakuza wife (ready to commit suicide) perfect groupie, perfect inmate etc... But she failed it all, not because she is not doing enough to be perfect, but because the recipients of her devotion are not following the rule anymore. This is a new era, the Japanese society has mutated and her wishes fall into madness. Technically perfect, with an extreme precision in the musical part of the film, this movie serves its topic totally. A CHEF D'OEUVRE...