Kabei: Our Mother | |
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film poster
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Directed by | Yoji Yamada |
Written by | Terayu Nogami (biography) Yoji Yamada & Emiko Hiramatsu (screenplay) |
Starring |
Sayuri Yoshinaga Tadanobu Asano Rei Dan Mirai Shida |
Distributed by | Shochiku |
Release date
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Running time
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132 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Box office | $18,385,964 |
Kabei: Our Mother (母べえ Kābē?) is a 2008 Japanese film starring Sayuri Yoshinaga and directed by Yoji Yamada.
The film was based on the autobiographical novel by Teruyo Nogami, who for many years worked with director Akira Kurosawa, often as script supervisor.
Set in Tokyo in 1940, the peaceful life of the Nogami Family suddenly changes when the father, Shigeru, is arrested and accused of being a Communist. His wife Kayo works frantically from morning to night to maintain the household and bring up her two daughters with the support of Shigeru's sister Hisako and Shigeru's ex-student Yamazaki, but her husband does not return. World War II breaks out and casts dark shadows on the entire country, but Kayo still tries to keep her cheerful determination, and sustain the family with her love. This is an emotional drama of a mother and an eternal message for peace.
The film received several nominations at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize, including for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress for Sayuri Yoshinaga, Best Supporting Actor for Tadanobu Asano and Best Supporting Actress for Rei Dan.