Wife

『妻』 
Tsuma

Imported 35mm Print. The fourth of Naruse’s Fumiko Hayashi adaptations, Wife stars Mieko Takamine (The Masseurs and a Woman) as unhappy housewife Mineko whose 10-year marriage with husband Toichi (Ken Uehara) has been reduced to a barely tolerated co-existence. As Toichi’s languishing career barely supports them, Mineko takes to other means of supplementing their income, but her frustrations come to a boiling point when she learns of Toichi’s infidelity. Opening and closing with a montage of silent morning routines, Wife finds husband and wife at an impenetrable impasse, trapped within the confines of a failed marriage which both cannot leave.

Print courtesy of The Japan Foundation.

Dir. Mikio Naruse, 1953, 96 min., 35mm, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Ken Uehara, Mieko Takamine. Novel by Fumiko Hayashi.

Part of the John and Miyoko Davey Classic Film Series
Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us – Part I
May 9—31, 2025

© 1953 Toho Co., Ltd.

Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us is co-organized by Japan Society, Metrograph and the Japan Foundation, New York.

Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us – Part I is generously supported by The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund for Classic Japanese Film.

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).

Japan Society programs are supported by 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, Anime NYC 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 Ms. Miyoko U. Davey, The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, and Film Circle members.

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