The Naked Island (1960)

A family of four are the sole inhabitants of a small island, where they struggle each day to irrigate their crops.

Director:

Kaneto Shindô

Writer:

Kaneto Shindô

Stars:

Nobuko Otowa, Taiji Tonoyama, Shinji Tanaka

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Nobuko Otowa	...	Toyo, the mother
Taiji Tonoyama	...	Senta, the father
Shinji Tanaka	...	Tarô - the elder son
Masanori Horimoto	...	Jirô - the younger son

Storyline

Deals with the intolerably hard life of a family of four, the only inhabitants of a very small Japanese island in the Setonaikai archipelago. Several times a day they row over to the neighboring island to fetch water for their miserable fields.

---

Plot Keywords:

island | silence | agriculture | nature | japanese new wave | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #811.

---

Connections

Referenced in Quién te cantará (2018)

User Reviews

the most moving film

I was surfing on the t.v. and came across this incredible "little" film on a French Canadian station. As there is no dialogue and the story is so human and pure, it is truly the most universal picture I've seen. I defy anyone not to be moved by the challenges which the characters face, the realism in the minimalist acting and the beauty of the simplistic black and white camerawork. I've never heard of this film, but I will tell all my friends about it.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

None

Release Date:

10 September 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Naked Island

Filming Locations:

Island of Sukune in Mihara, Hiroshima, Japan

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,673

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kindai Eiga Kyokai

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1