Sound in the Mist

『霧の音』 
Kiri no Oto

New English Subtitles by Japan Society. An unconsummated love affair in the mist-laden Japanese Alps outlines the quietly torturous yearnings of botany professor Kazuhiko (Ken Uehara, Mr. Thank You, Repast) and his assistant Tsuruko (Michiyo Kogure), who unexpectedly leaves him one day, disappearing from his life. Divided into four chapters, each taking place on the same day spread across years, the film follows the professor as he returns every autumn equinox to the mountain cabin he once shared with his beloved Tsuruko. Under the harvest moon, chance and fate lead the pair to cross paths, if only for a moment. Dominated by natural landscapes and silent emotions, Shimizu’s late-period melodrama is an undiscovered triumph.

Dir. Hiroshi Shimizu, 1956, 84 min., DCP, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Ken Uehara, Michiyo Kogure, Keizo Kawasaki.

Part of the John and Miyoko Davey Classic Film Series
Hiroshi Shimizu – Part II: The Postwar and Independent Years
May 16—June 1, 2024

© KADOKAWA 1956

Hiroshi Shimizu is co-presented with Museum of the Moving Image, the National Film Archive of Japan, and Japan Foundation, New York.

Hiroshi Shimizu – Part II: The Independent and Postwar Years is generously supported by The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund for Classic Japanese Film.

Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family and Friends of Film. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film. Housing assistance is provided by the Kitano Hotel, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film.