Kabei: Our Mother" (Japan release circa2008) is an important and historically-engaging film by renowned director Yoji Yamada (who did "Twilight Samurai" "The Hidden-Blade" and of course the much beloved 'Tora-san = Otoko wa Tsurai yo" movie series). The lead Star portraying the steadfast caring mother Kayo Nogami nicknamed "Kabei" is Sayuri Yoshinaga = one of Japan's most famous and gifted actresses who starred in "Tengoku no eki = Station to Heaven" and "Hana no ran* = A Chaos of Flowers" two of the best/ most emotionally resonant Japanese films from the 1980's (both had repeated showings on the NGN Cable channel in Hawaii a few years back).
In any event, "Kabei" first released in 2008 is an important historical drama shedding light on a portion of Japanese pre and post WWII history that is not revisited much in movies = i.e. the tumultuous time beginning with Japan's 1930's ambitious-intensive military build-up, a time in which those prescient writers & thinkers warning that Wars of aggression & expansionism could bring catastrophe to Japan were often branded guilty of 'thought-crimes' against the Imperial-State resulting in arrest and protracted-prison stays (a theme that does harken back to Akira Kurosawa's courageous early masterpiece, "No Regrets for our Youth = Waga seishun ni kuinashi" circa1946, starring legendary Setsuko Hara)
But Yoji Yamada's film "Kabei" is not 'heavy-handed' in its presentation of the political-struggles in those tumultuous-times = the movie's main focus is on the daily hardships and incredible perseverance mustered by the beleaguered mother and wife Kayo Nogami (nicknamed 'Kabei') whose husband Shigeru had been arrested and imprisoned indefinitely for publishing essays opposing military-expansionism, thus leaving Kabei and her two young daughters to fend for themselves in a Japan just entering WWII, encountering the growing hardships due to extremely limited-resources and the subsequent Loss-of-life of the able-bodied (taking a greater-and-greater toll on average Japanese citizenry and families as the horrific War progresses)
Sayuri Yoshinaga gives an authentic performance as the mother doing everything possible (and more) to hold the remaining family together while maintaining the moral spirits of her daughters and giving them the will to persevere even under the darkened shroud of Chaos, catastrophe and personal loss (with the shadow of 'death' perpetually lingering at 'Kabei's doorstep imperiling loved-ones with terrifying regularity) = a most common fate shared by families during the latter-stages of WWII and its immediate aftermath in Japan (and elsewhere of course).
Without giving away any more of the story, there are also glimmers of hope and potential for healing at least among the younger generations (represented by Kabei's two daughters) as the film transports the viewer closer to the modern/present-Day in the latter part of this film.....but an indelible sadness and sense of eternal loss still lingers in the final scenes.........also that the tremendous hardships endured and sacrifices made by their devoted mother 'Kabei' can never be fully appreciated or ever fully repaid.
Note: the only critique I have about Yoji Yamada's film is that it was obviously made on a very limited budget and the scenes depicting the End of War, and immediate Aftermath could have gained emotional impact thru a larger-scale more 'cinematic' showing of actual devastation etc.
note*: "Hana no ran" is the 1988 film in which Sayuri Yoshinaga portrayed famous Taisho era poet Akiko Yosano.
In any event, "Kabei" first released in 2008 is an important historical drama shedding light on a portion of Japanese pre and post WWII history that is not revisited much in movies = i.e. the tumultuous time beginning with Japan's 1930's ambitious-intensive military build-up, a time in which those prescient writers & thinkers warning that Wars of aggression & expansionism could bring catastrophe to Japan were often branded guilty of 'thought-crimes' against the Imperial-State resulting in arrest and protracted-prison stays (a theme that does harken back to Akira Kurosawa's courageous early masterpiece, "No Regrets for our Youth = Waga seishun ni kuinashi" circa1946, starring legendary Setsuko Hara)
But Yoji Yamada's film "Kabei" is not 'heavy-handed' in its presentation of the political-struggles in those tumultuous-times = the movie's main focus is on the daily hardships and incredible perseverance mustered by the beleaguered mother and wife Kayo Nogami (nicknamed 'Kabei') whose husband Shigeru had been arrested and imprisoned indefinitely for publishing essays opposing military-expansionism, thus leaving Kabei and her two young daughters to fend for themselves in a Japan just entering WWII, encountering the growing hardships due to extremely limited-resources and the subsequent Loss-of-life of the able-bodied (taking a greater-and-greater toll on average Japanese citizenry and families as the horrific War progresses)
Sayuri Yoshinaga gives an authentic performance as the mother doing everything possible (and more) to hold the remaining family together while maintaining the moral spirits of her daughters and giving them the will to persevere even under the darkened shroud of Chaos, catastrophe and personal loss (with the shadow of 'death' perpetually lingering at 'Kabei's doorstep imperiling loved-ones with terrifying regularity) = a most common fate shared by families during the latter-stages of WWII and its immediate aftermath in Japan (and elsewhere of course).
Without giving away any more of the story, there are also glimmers of hope and potential for healing at least among the younger generations (represented by Kabei's two daughters) as the film transports the viewer closer to the modern/present-Day in the latter part of this film.....but an indelible sadness and sense of eternal loss still lingers in the final scenes.........also that the tremendous hardships endured and sacrifices made by their devoted mother 'Kabei' can never be fully appreciated or ever fully repaid.
Note: the only critique I have about Yoji Yamada's film is that it was obviously made on a very limited budget and the scenes depicting the End of War, and immediate Aftermath could have gained emotional impact thru a larger-scale more 'cinematic' showing of actual devastation etc.
note*: "Hana no ran" is the 1988 film in which Sayuri Yoshinaga portrayed famous Taisho era poet Akiko Yosano.