is a 1960 Japanese
drama film directed by
Kon Ichikawa. It is based on the novel ''Otōto'' by
Aya Koda.
Plot
In
Taishō era Tokyo, 17-year-old Gen takes care of the household of her family due to her stepmother's
rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including art ...
. Meanwhile, her younger brother Hekiro lives a carefree life, repeatedly getting into trouble and making gambling debts. Neither his stepmother interferes with his behaviour, nor does the detached father, a famous novelist. Only Gen scolds Hekiro from time to time, for which he ridicules her, although she is completely devoted to him. When Hekiro falls terminally ill with
tuberculosis and is hospitalised, with his sister by his side every minute she can spare, he finally regrets his behaviour. After Hekiro's death, Gen collapses and is taken back home with
anemia by the hospital personnel, but once she awakes, she returns to her role as the housekeeper without questioning.
Cast
*
Keiko Kishi
is a Japanese actress, writer, and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador.
Life and career
She made her acting debut in 1951. In the 1950s, David Lean had proposed her for the main role in ''The Wind Cannot Read'', which is about a Japanese language instruc ...
as Gen
*
Hiroshi Kawaguchi as Hekiro
*
Kinuyo Tanaka as Mother
*
Masayuki Mori as Father
*
Kyōko Kishida
was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and writer of children's books.
Career
Kishida became an actress in 1950, and starred in a Yukio Mishima production of the 1960 film '' Salome''. Her film and television drama credits number in the hundreds ...
as Mrs. Tanuma
* Noboru Nakaya as Patrolman Rokoru Shimizu
*
Kyōko Enami
was a Japanese film and television actress.
Career
Enami was the daughter of the actress Kazuko Enami. She joined the Daiei Film studio in 1959 and made her screen debut in 1960 with ''Ashita kara otona da''. Her first starring role as Noboriry ...
as Nurse Miyata
*
Jun Hamamura
was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1938 and 1995.
Selected filmography
* ''Wolf'' (1955)
* '' The Burmese Harp'' (1956)
* '' The Hole'' (1957)
* ''The Temptress and the Monk'' (1958)
* ''Enjō'' (1958)
* ''Odd Obs ...
as Doctor
* Hikaru Hoshi as Owner of hiring horse
*
Juzo Itami
, born , was a Japanese actor, screenwriter and film director. He directed eleven films (one short and ten features), all of which he wrote himself.
Early life
Itami was born Yoshihiro Ikeuchi in Kyoto. The name Itami was passed on from his fath ...
as Son of Factory owner
* Noriko Hodaka as Nurse
Background
In order to achieve a desaturated look, the film made use of a cinematographic technique known as
bleach bypass.
At the
1961 Cannes Film Festival
The 14th Cannes Film Festival was held from 3 to 18 May 1961. The Palme d'Or went to the ''Une aussi longue absence'', directed by Henri Colpi and ''Viridiana'', directed by Luis Buñuel. The festival opened with ''Che gioia vivere'', directed by ...
, ''Her Brother'' received a special mention by the French association of image and sound technicians (CST).
Reception
Akira Kurosawa cited ''Her Brother'' as one of his 100 favorite films.
Awards (selected)
''Her Brother'' was awarded several national film prizes, including:
*
Blue Ribbon Award for Best Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography
*
Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film and Best Director
*
Mainichi Film Concour for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction (Tomoo Shimogawara), and Best Actors (starring and supporting) Keiko Kishi, Kinuyo Tanaka, and Masayuki Mori
Legacy
In later years, ''Her Brother'' has seen repeated screenings at festivals and film museums such as the
Cinémathèque Française in 2008 and 2022, the
Berlin International Film Festival in 2015, and the
Museum of Modern Art in 2018.
References
External links
*
{{Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film
1960 films
1960 drama films
Best Film Kinema Junpo Award winners
Films directed by Kon Ichikawa
Films about siblings
Films about infectious diseases
Japanese drama films
Films based on Japanese novels
Daiei Film films
Films produced by Masaichi Nagata
Films scored by Yasushi Akutagawa
Films set in the Taishō period
1960s Japanese films