Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Tatsuo Matsumura | ... | Professor Hyakken Uchida | |
Hisashi Igawa | ... | Takayama | |
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George Tokoro | ... | Amaki (as Jôji Tokoro) |
Masayuki Yui | ... | Kiriyama | |
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Akira Terao | ... | Sawamura |
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Takeshi Kusaka | ... | Dr. Kobayashi |
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Asei Kobayashi | ... | Rev. Kameyama |
Kyôko Kagawa | ... | Professor's Wife | |
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Mitsuru Hirata | ... | Tada |
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Takao Zushi | ... | Kitamura |
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Nobuto Okamoto | ... | Ôta |
Tetsu Watanabe | |||
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Kimihiro Reizei | ... | Murayama |
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Norio Matsui | ||
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Akihiko Sugizaki |
This film tells the story of professor Uehida Hyakken-sama (1889-1971), in Gotemba, around the forties. He was a university professor until an air raid, when he left to become a writer and has to live in a hut. His mood has hardly changed, not by the change nor by time. Every year his students celebrate his birthday, issuing the question "Mahda kai?" (not yet?), just to hear Uehida-san's answer "Madada yo!" (No, not yet!), in a ritual of self affirmation, and desires of lasting forever. It's a very "japanese" film who portrays everyday life and customs in Japan. Written by Jaime Moraga <jim@moai.usach.cl>
Madadayo appears to be a light comedy on the surface, but, as in all Kurosawa films, he draws you deeper and deeper into the characters and takes his time to tell the story the way he wants to. Also, Madadayo is quite charming. I loved it. I felt I was transported to post war Japan and given more than just a glimpse into the Japanese personality, and that is a gift in my book. What a brilliant director Kurosawa was. I will miss him dearly.