Reiko is a widow of a would-be heir of a small beverage shop in a local city. The shop was destroyed by the air-raids during the war, but she was the one who rebuilt the shop after the war and made it even larger than prewar through 18 years of hard work. She is a woman in her late 30's, still beautiful but never thought of having another life time partner. But when her 11 years younger brother-in-law, Koji, confessed love to her, her firm mind is swung. Edit Translation
- English
- magyar / magyar nyelv
- dansk
- Norsk
- Native Title: 乱れる
- Also Known As: Midareru , Tourments ,
- Screenwriter & Director: Naruse Mikio
- Screenwriter: Matsuyama Zenzo
- Genres: Romance, Drama
Cast & Credits
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![Takamine Hideko in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)]( "Takamine Hideko in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)")
Takamine Hideko Main Role -
![Kayama Yuzo in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)]( "Kayama Yuzo in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)")
Kayama Yuzo Main Role -
![Kusabue Mitsuko in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)]( "Kusabue Mitsuko in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)")
Kusabue MitsukoMorita HisakoSupport Role -
![Shirakawa Yumi in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)]( "Shirakawa Yumi in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)")
Shirakawa YumiMorita TakakoSupport Role -
![Mimasu Aiko in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)]( "Mimasu Aiko in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)")
Mimasu AikoMorita ShizuSupport Role -
![Kitamura Kazuo in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)]( "Kitamura Kazuo in Yearning Japanese Movie (1964)")
Kitamura KazuoMr. Morizono [Hisako's husband]Support Role
Reviews
"My hobby is making you upset"
Naruse Mikio wasn’t afraid to have his female leads shun societal norms. He also wasn’t afraid to bring the tears and the pain. With a title like, Yearning, I’ll let you decide which category this film fell into.Reiko has single-handedly saved and restored her late husband’s family story. Even though he died during the war six months after they were married and the original shack was destroyed in an air raid, Reiko felt the responsibility to build the store up. Her mother-in-law and two vipers for sisters-in law were happy to let her do all the work while they benefited from it. Her brother-in-law, Koji, 11 years her junior also benefited from her hard work by going to college and then becoming a slacker who spent his time and the store’s money on booze, women, and gambling. The little shop and others like it are being threatened by a new super market that can sell items cheaper than they can. The Morita sisters-in-law are planning on cutting Reiko out of the family store as the profits dwindle and new plan is hatched to save the business. More threatening to the family is when Koji declares his love for Reiko.
Takamine Hideko gave a beautifully complex performance as Reiko. Her wonderfully expressive face conveyed emotions Reiko would not allow herself to speak. Kayama Yuzo made a stunning Koji, handsome, with a primal maleness. There was no doubt why Reiko would be swayed by his desperate declarations. Koji also fiercely defended Reiko’s place in the family and in the store. The music, longing looks, and awkwardness all conveyed the terrible yearning of Reiko and Koji. While it was perfectly acceptable for ancient old men to wed teenage girls, a relationship between a woman a decade older than a man was unthinkable. Koji might have been willing to face society’s scorn but traditional, reserved, Reiko was not so open to the idea.
Yearning tackled the changing economic landscape, family dynamics, and a forbidden love. Naruse, as always, crafted an aesthetic film and multifaceted female lead. Takamine and Kayama gave heartbreaking performances as two people so close and yet so very far away. Along with, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, this Naruse film has now become one of my favorites of his.
"I wanted to stay here because you are here."
15 April 2025
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