It's a Flickering Life (キネマの神様)

Commemorating 100 years of Shochiku Cinema

A Yoji Yamada film

It's a Flickering Life

"Cinema Companion"

As rugby fever swept over Japan,

no one thought the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and high school baseball

would be called off.

Maruyama, phone for you.

Someone called Suzuki.

- Company? - No idea.

Don't stop! Don't stop!

Hello, Maruyama here.

Sorry to cold-call you.

I'm Suzuki from Asia Holdings.

Your father is Gohchoku Maruyama?

Yes, he is.

My company lent money to your father.

He's behind on last month's payment.

Listen.

I've... got nothing to do with my father's debts.

Of course. I just thought I should let you know.

If he refuses to pay, we may have to visit your home...

Go! Go! Go go go! Go go go!

Hello! Sorry I'm late!

Don't worry. It's only just begun.

Good house for "Cinema Paradise"?

Thankfully.

Glad to hear it.

Terashin.

I've cleaned the restroom.

I'll go now that Mizukawa's here.

I'll be back day after tomorrow.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

Yoshiko.

Did your husband get his test result?

He won't show me. He just insists he's fine.

He says his back hurts now and then. That worries me.

His liver's crying out from all that alcohol.

I'll be strict with him.

What's Goh doing today?

Afternoon... horse racing?

He works for the senior center on Fridays.

He's probably toiling away, raking or something.

"Horse Lovers"

Leading Light stays ahead! The dark horse leads!

Hang in there!

Leading Light hangs on! Or will it be My Destiny?

Hang in there!

It's My Destiny at the finish!

My Destiny wins!

So much for the dark horse!

Dammit!

Uh-oh. Let's go.

Just leave us alone today!

Ow, ow!

Don't make a scene.

I'm not gonna get violent.

I just wanna see your father to talk money.

I'll call the police!

Don't bother.

Police can't get involved in civil affairs.

Just let me see your father.

I know he's home.

Is that your mother back there?

Take this and go for today!

It's not enough, but too bad.

Be sure to tell your father.

I'll be back next month.

Is Dad home?!

In the bath.

Five years ago,

after I quit my old job,

I used my severance pay to cover Dad's debts.

"Ayumi, I'm sorry. I'll never get in debt ever again."

He was crying and bowing there.

You were bawling too, Mom.

I believed what he said.

I didn't cry.

Yes you did! Your nose was running too.

What was all that for?

At lunchtime today,

I got a call at work.

I don't know if it was the same guy,

but he sounded sleazy. "He's behind on his payments."

My vision totally blacked out.

I'm sorry, Ayumi.

Don't apologize to me. Get angry with me!

I'm angry too.

- Are you really? - I am.

Then you've got to make a scary face!

You two are hopeless.

That sure revived me!

Honey! Beer!

Coming.

Mom! Don't say "Coming"!

Why are you mad?

Dad.

You said you'd never use loan sharks again. Was that a lie?

One was waiting outside just now.

Some creep wanting money.

It slipped my mind.

So, he came here, huh...

She paid him for you. With her own money.

How much did you borrow?

Hardly anything. Hardly anything at all.

I'm down on my luck, but that'll change soon.

When it does, I'll bet big,

and win a few million easily.

You've got some nerve to say that.

I'm hungry. Make dinner!

You got your pension today. Chip in for food money.

I've got no cash.

Can't pay by card?

Little lady?

No!

Yuta.

Your mom and your grandma

are plotting to starve me to death!

Going without food for a day won't kill you.

Grandma, I'll eat in my room.

Dad.

Be honest with me.

How much do you owe?

Hardly anything, I said!

H-Hey, stay here!

Ayumi.

I'll cancel my life insurance for a million.

Could you help out too?

You must have savings. You've worked a long time.

If we don't pay,

something terrible will happen.

I won't help Dad anymore.

I mean, I can't help him.

I can't...

...extend my work contract now!

Not the way my magazine's selling.

You read fancy-pants film criticism like this?

It's an interesting mag.

Get this. Movies should make you

feel something, in your heart.

Not make you think in your head.

My heart, huh?

Yeah, your heart.

Grandpa.

Is gambling about heart?

Dummy.

Can't compare gambling and movies.

What's fun about gambling then?

Whether it's fun or not doesn't matter.

It's just...

...an escape, for me.

An escape from what?

That ain't easy to answer.

You're escaping too, from something.

Maybe I am.

You've got worries too, right?

Grandpa, want to eat this?

You sure?

Go for it.

I skipped lunch. I could eat a horse.

Hey. Gimme water.

Okay.

I'd prefer beer though.

No luxuries.

Yes sir.

Okay, next question.

"I'd like my 78-year-old heavy-drinking father

"to spend the rest of his life peacefully,

so how can I cure his love of gambling, to pay off his debt?"

78, is he?

It'll be difficult at his age.

I went through the same thing with my father.

I'm guessing your father has low self-esteem,

and lacks confidence in himself.

A lonely loner,

unable to confide.

That's right!

He thinks he'll get over it someday,

but depends on his family.

Eventually, he can only find joy in drinking and gambling.

Gambling addiction is a mental illness.

It can't be cured easily.

If you want to save him,

start by adamantly refusing to cover his debts.

Are you with me?

Make him repay them. That's most important.

His family must seize his pension and everything.

If that doesn't work,

make him declare bankruptcy,

and cut all ties with his family.

It's the only way.

Why didn't you leave him?

Dad wouldn't agree to it?

Actually,

he said "Okay."

He even put his seal on divorce papers, years ago.

So? What happened?

I thought,

if he went on to deal with his debt, alone,