Otsuta is running the geisha house Tsuta in Tokyo. Her business is heavily in debt. Her daughter Katsuyo doesn't see any future in her mother's trade in the late days of Geisha. But Otsuta will not give up. This film portraits the day time life of geisha when not entertaining customers.
Acting
Isuzu Yamada's Otsuta—pride and panic in every gesture.
Direction
Naruse's invisible camera: tragedy through doorways, never sentiment.
Writing
Dialogue that wounds with politeness—Japanese repression as art.
Director
Mikio Naruse
Kinuyo Tanaka
Rika Yamanaka / Oharu
Isuzu Yamada
Otsuta
Hideko Takamine
Katsuyo
Mariko Okada
Nanako
Haruko Sugimura
Someka
Sumiko Kurishima
Ohama
Chieko Nakakita
Yoneko
Natsuko Kahara
Otoyo
Seiji Miyaguchi
Namie's Uncle
Daisuke Katō
Yoneko's Ex
Nobuo Nakamura
Doctor
Noboru Nakaya
Saeki, Ohama's newphew
Kumeko Otowa
Tsurumoto maid
Yoshie Minami
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Naruse made this during Japan's postwar 'women's films' boom, but refused melodrama—his geishas work, bicker, and survive without romantic rescue.
Kinuyo Tanaka plays a supporting role here but was Japan's first female director; Naruse reportedly resented her success and rarely worked with her again.
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