Mâdadayo (1993)

Following World War II, a retired professor approaching his autumn years finds his quality of life drastically reduced in war-torn Tokyo. Denying despair, he pursues writing and celebrates his birthday with his adoring students.

Directors:

Akira Kurosawa, Ishirô Honda (uncredited)

Writers:

Akira Kurosawa, Hyakken Uchida (essays)

Stars:

Tatsuo Matsumura, Hisashi Igawa, George Tokoro

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tatsuo Matsumura	...	Professor Hyakken Uchida
Hisashi Igawa	...	Takayama
George Tokoro	...	Amaki (as Jôji Tokoro)
Masayuki Yui	...	Kiriyama
Akira Terao	...	Sawamura
Takeshi Kusaka	...	Dr. Kobayashi
Asei Kobayashi	...	Rev. Kameyama
Kyôko Kagawa	...	Professor's Wife
Mitsuru Hirata	...	Tada
Takao Zushi	...	Kitamura
Nobuto Okamoto	...	Ôta
Tetsu Watanabe
Kimihiro Reizei	...	Murayama
Norio Matsui
Akihiko Sugizaki

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | birthday | beer | japan | air raid | 

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Taglines:

The final film by Japan's master filmmaker.

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Tatsuo Matsumura was 79 years old when he played the Professor, portraying the professor between the ages of 58 and 77. Matsumura was older than his character throughout the movie, almost twenty years older than the Professor he portrayed for most of the picture.

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Goofs

The story depicts Professor Hyakken's 60th birthday toward the end of World War II (1943-1945). But he was born in 1889; thus, he turned 60 years old in 1949.

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Connections

Referenced in Vanilla Sky (2001)

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Soundtracks

L'ESTRO ARMONICO Op. II, Concert No 1 in D Major, RV 230
Music by Antonio Vivaldi
Performed by Solisti Veneti (as I Solisti Veneti)
Conducted by Claudio Scimone
Courtesy of ERARO DISQUES S.A.

User Reviews

Madadayo travels deeper than most light comedies.

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.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

20 March 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Not Yet

Filming Locations:

Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$11,900,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$596

Company Credits

Production Co:

DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Daiei, Kurosawa Production Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1