A bureaucrat tries to find a meaning in his life after he discovers he has terminal cancer.
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Title: Ikiru (1952)
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Top Rated Movies #110
|
Nominated for
1
BAFTA Film Award.
Another
5 wins & 1 nomination.
See more awards »
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Takashi Shimura | ... | Kanji Watanabe | |
| Shin'ichi Himori | ... | Kimura | |
 |
Haruo Tanaka | ... | Sakai |
| Minoru Chiaki | ... | Noguchi | |
| Miki Odagiri | ... | Toyo Odagiri, employee | |
| Bokuzen Hidari | ... | Ohara | |
|
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Minosuke Yamada | ... | Subordinate Clerk Saito |
| Kamatari Fujiwara | ... | Sub-Section Chief Ono | |
|
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Makoto Kobori | ... | Kiichi Watanabe, Kanji's Brother |
| Nobuo Kaneko | ... | Mitsuo Watanabe, Kanji's son | |
| Nobuo Nakamura | ... | Deputy Mayor | |
|
|
Atsushi Watanabe | ... | Patient |
|
|
Isao Kimura | ... | Intern |
|
|
Masao Shimizu | ... | Doctor |
|
|
Yûnosuke Itô | ... | Novelist |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Kanji Watanabe is a civil servant. He has worked in the same department for 30 years. His life is pretty boring and monotonous, though he once used to have passion and drive. Then one day he discovers that he has stomach cancer and has less than a year to live. After the initial depression he sets about living for the first time in over 20 years. Then he realises that his limited time left is not just for living life to the full but to leave something meaningful behind... Written by grantss
Taglines:
The truths of a lifetime bring out the beauty in a person, and move the heart like a tender poem. See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
JapanLanguage:
JapaneseRelease Date:
25 March 1956 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Ikiru See more »Filming Locations:
JapanEdit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$2,149, 29 December 2002Gross USA:
$60,239Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$90,773Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (cut)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
See more »
Music by Vincent Scotto
Lyrics by Georges Koger and Henri Varna
Performed by Josephine Baker
When entering in the bar with the long-faced man
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider. See more »Goofs
In the last scene with Toyo (in the restaurant with the birthday party going on), the position of the bell on the mechanical bunny changes, even though neither actor has touched the bunny. See more »Quotes
Tatsu Watanabe, Kiichi's Wife: My husband thinks all men are as debauched as he is.See more »
Soundtracks
J'ai Deux AmoursMusic by Vincent Scotto
Lyrics by Georges Koger and Henri Varna
Performed by Josephine Baker
When entering in the bar with the long-faced man
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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This film touched me in a way no other film has. Filmed in black and white and gorgeous, both in the visuals and in how the story unfolds. Behold the clever manner of gradually unfolding the story as people jog each other's memories at his funeral (an obligation for them, that gradually turns into a real eulogy). Everything is told in flashbacks: the mourners' memories unfold naturally, as people remember what the man did and struggle to comprehend why.
This film I would nominate for the golden five of the century!
I first saw it in 1956 or so at a small theater in downtown Chicago. A second viewing, years later, confirmed my initial pleasure!