Wife

Wife
Tsuma
Japan
1953
89 Min
Black and White
1.37:1
Japanese
DIR Mikio Naruse
PROD Sanezumi Fujimoto
SCR Fumiko Hayashi, Toshirô Ide
DP Masao Tamai
CAST Mieko Takamine, Ken Uehara, Rentarô Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Sanae Takasugi, Chieko Nakakita, Yatsuko Tanami, Hajime Izu, Yoshiko Tsubouchi, Tatsuya Ishiguro, Akira Tani, Noriko Honma, Masao Shimizu
ED Hideshi Ohi
PROD DES Satoshi Chuko
MUSIC Ichirô Saitô
SOUND Choshichiro Mikami
My Rating : 5/5

Naruse gives us a stunningly realistic portrayal of domestic life in this film. Whether it is the man and wife or their tenants in the apartment or neighbours; you are sure to have met similar characters in your life. Essentially we have a story on extra marital affair which by itself isn’t a very novel subject but Naruse makes it very special.

Ken Uehera plays the husband bored with his married life. His wife played by Mieko Takamine is one of those who are used to their mundane life. She doesn’t have any great expectations from her husband and remains busy in her daily chores, gossiping with tenants and worrying about whether her tenants will pay their rent on time or not. Her husbands behavior mildly irritates her but she doesn’t seem to be too bothered about it. Most importantly, she is totally secure about her husband whom she describes as a boring type of a person who would possibly be the last person to get into an extra marital affair. But as it so often happens, she is proven wrong and Ken develops feelings for his office typist( a widow with a young child) and starts contemplating leaving his wife for her, although he never appears too serious about it. In fact, even the scene in which he discloses his affair to his wife happens so unplanned and unexpectedly that even his wife finds it tough to believe. When matters seem to get serious, the wife decides to take matters into her own hands and tells the typist to leave her husband for good. A moment where her resolve not to lose her husband of ten years comes very naturally.

Naruse ends the film with the couple not on talking terms, continuing their daily routine with a disappointed and confused outlook regarding their future. The highlight of this film has to be its casting. Rentaro Mikuni is a delight to watch as the painter gossip monger and strangely enough we have another Takamine fitting the role of the wife perfectly. Ken Uehera is also reliable in his role as the husband. Also, the film keeps its pace without getting too melodramatic and handles this very real life like situation with a mature outlook. In conclusion, this Naruse gem is highly recommended.