With Yamada Isuzu and Hasegawa Kazuo as its female and male lead, the film was endowed with two movie legends in the making. Yamada Isuzu as the mature samisen player in partner with the male-centred and restrained Tsurujiro played by Hasegawa.
However being a performing artist in the 1930s in Japan, and in fact anywhere else in the world, with the depression and the second world war looming large, is not an easy job. Love, friendship, financial problems intermingled with great performances in their partnership to bid for the meijinkai as great Japanese performers with honour. Throughout, Naruse has made a great tapestry of a delicate feelings of two human souls. A must for Japanese movie lover.
However being a performing artist in the 1930s in Japan, and in fact anywhere else in the world, with the depression and the second world war looming large, is not an easy job. Love, friendship, financial problems intermingled with great performances in their partnership to bid for the meijinkai as great Japanese performers with honour. Throughout, Naruse has made a great tapestry of a delicate feelings of two human souls. A must for Japanese movie lover.