(1953) Wife/ Tsuma ((In Japanese with English subtitles) DRAMA

Adapted from the novel by Fumiko Hayashi with Mineko ( Mieko Takamine) as the title character with the actual movie is really the examination between her and her employed husband, Toichi Nakagawa (Ken Uehara) for a little extra money rent out spare rooms to other people such as to the couple Hirohisa (Hajime Izu) and Eiko (Chieko Nakakita) Matsuyama and the painter/ artist Tanimura (Rentarô Mikuni). The relationship between Mineko and her husband becomes complicated as soon as her husband begins to fall for a fellow co-worker, Fusako Sagara (Yatsuko Tan'ami).

This starts as broad if uncomfortable comedy, based on the battle of the sexes and the strains of marriage in an imperfect world full of imperfect people. Slowly, tragic themes emerge as the desperation of the characters for love and security becomes clear and their aspirations become at the expense of each other. The comedy is rather obvious, with some character clichés and crude approaches.

The tragedy is more subtle, with Ken Uehara expressing a world of feeling in a single glance. By the end of the film, the characters accept mundane reality in place of dreams though with disillusioned resignation rather than the contentment a sentimental Western film might display.

The film's style changes, too, from unsatisfying short sequences in the first half to more typical Naruse long takes by the end.