Toward the end of World War II, middle-aged soldier Keita is entrusted with a postcard from a comrade who is sure he will die in battle. After the war ends, Keita visits his comrade's wife Yuko and bears witness to the tragic life she has led.
Writing
Shindō's final film at 98 — every line earned through 70+ years of craft.
Acting
Otake's Yuko: a performance of held breath and held-back screams.
Cinematography
Static compositions that trap characters in their moral cages.
Director
Kaneto Shindō
Etsushi Toyokawa
Keita Matsuyama
Naomasa Musaka
Sadazo Morikawa
Shinobu Otake
Tomoko Morikawa
Akira Emoto
Yukichi Morikawa, the Father-in-Law
Mitsuko Baisho
Chiyo Morikawa, the Mother-in-Law
Masahiko Tsugawa
Riwemon, Matsuyama's Uncle
Ren Osugi
Kichigoro Izumiya
Yasuhito Ohchi
Maiko Kawakami
Moeko Ezawa
Houka Kinoshita
Tokuko Watanabe
Akaji Maro
Monk
Dai Watanabe
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Postcard was Shindō's 48th and final film; he wrote the script from his hospital bed at 98, completing it three months before his death.
The film revisits Shindō's own wartime trauma — he survived military service while his unit was decimated, a guilt that haunted his entire career.
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