夜の女たち (Women of the night)

A SHOCHIKU FILM

WOMEN OF THE NIGHT

Produced by HISAO ITO YA

Original Story by EIJIRO HISAITA Screenplay by YOSHITAKA YODA

Cinematography by KOHEI SUGIYAMA Lighting by KENJI TANAKA

Production Design by HIROSHI MIZUTANI

Music by HISATO OSAWA

Starring

KINUYO TANAKA

SANAE TAKASUGI

TOMIE TSUNODA MITSUO NAGATA, HIROHISA MURATA

KUMEKO URABE KIKUE MORI

MIMPEI TOMIMOTO UMEKO OBAYASHI

HIROSHI AO YAMA FUSAKO MAKI, AIZO TAMASHIMA

Directed by KENJI MIZOGUCHI

WOMEN LOITERING AFTER DARK MAY BE ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION.

UPSTANDING WOMEN SHOULD NOT STAY OUT PAST DARK.

Welcome. Still no news from your husband?

No.

Are your parents and sister still in Korea?

I've had no word. They must be back by now,

but they don't know I had to move.

What a shame.

You have nobody to turn to.

And my little boy has tuberculosis.

I don't know what to do.

Would you buy these, please?

Summer clothes.

Summer clothes...

aren't worth much, you know.

How about 600 yen?

Couldn't you make it a little more?

It's already too much.

Business has been bad.

And taxes are so high,

I might as well hang myself with these old clothes.

Please, just another 50 yen.

I really can't.

Please.

Just enough to buy eggs for my little boy.

Try the other shops.

They won't give you more than 500.

Here's 600.

Listen...

if you want to make money, I have a proposition.

What kind of proposition?

Earn money occasionally instead of selling your stuff.

You know of a job?

I'd do anything.

I know a man with a lot of the new currency.

I'll introduce you. Will you go see him?

Will he lend me some money?

That depends on your skill.

Just give him a night he won't forget.

What are you implying?

You should meet him. Everyone's doing it.

Do I look like that kind of woman? Don't make fun of me!

Hello.

I'm back.

Well? How much did you get?

Six hundred yen.

That's nothing!

I had no choice.

Fusako...

I know you're mad at me.

I'd help if I could.

But I don't make much.

It's all right.

I'll take care of my boy somehow.

I brought you some apples, dear.

I'll grate them for you.

I bought some eggs too.

He's your son. You have to take care of him.

You think I should stop drinking and help out.

Well, it doesn't work that way.

I came back from years at war to a burned-down house.

Now I work on the black market. One slip and I go to jail.

I should at least be able to drink my booze!

I give all of you 6,000 a month.

We appreciate it.

The kid doesn't need all those shots.

The doctor pushes them because it's profitable.

- He wouldn't do that. - They all do.

We had X rays taken.

It may mean nothing to you,

but if my son dies, I could never face my husband.

Where is my brother anyway?

Is he even alive? I wish he'd hurry and come back.

Please forgive him for saying those things.

It's all right, Mother.

If my son were well, I could work somewhere.

Nothing is going as I'd hoped. Please, let's drop the subject.

Mother, Sister, did you hear the radio?

We don't have one.

Somebody has news about Brother!

What did you hear?

I was listening during recess.

They said they have news for the family of Keisaku Owada.

They said to contact this man at Kuriyama Trading

for more information.

This is wonderful news!

Thank you!

- Shall we go, Mother? - Yes.

Kumiko, would you look after the baby?

I hope he's okay.

He was very ill when he got to the refugee camp.

He hated having to die after surviving so much.

This way, please.

These are his things.

His uniform was in tatters, so I left it behind.

I'm sorry to deliver such news after you've waited so long.

Excuse us.

- What is it? - They heard the announcement.

Really?

I'm glad you found them.

This is the president of the company.

We're sorry to bother you.

Not at all. It must be a terrible disappointment.

My condolences.

But as they say,

perhaps our meeting was predestined.

Come see me if you have any problems.

Keep your spirits up.

Thank you.

So my brother's dead?

Our last hope is gone.

Isn't that right, Mother?

We'll have to borrow money for the funeral.

Mother, look. He's having convulsions.

What on earth is happening?

I'll get the doctor!

Please hurry!

Please hurry!

It's time to go.

We'll go on ahead.

Fusako! Is that you?

Natsuko!

Sister!

Finally!

I looked for you everywhere.

I'm so glad you're well.

I'm so happy.

Natsuko, this is Kumiko. She's grown up, hasn't she?

She certainly has.

Kumiko, you remember my sister who was in Korea?

She's changed so much, I didn't recognize her.

When did you come back?

September of '46. Your house had burned down.

I couldn't find you, and I forgot where your husband worked.

I didn't know what to do.

How are Father and Mother?

And they well? How are they doing?

- They're both dead. - Dead?

Mother died before the war ended.

I came back with Father.

They both died of malnutrition.

It was terrible, absolutely terrible.

I lost my husband and child too.

Your husband too?

What are you doing now?

- I'm a dance hostess. - That's great.

And you?

I didn't want to burden my husband's family anymore,

so I asked the president of Kuriyama Trading for help.

He was kind enough to hire me.

She's the president's secretary. It's really great.

Maybe I should quit the factory and work somewhere else.

I can't buy a single sock on what I earn.

Where are you living?

In an apartment in Tengachaya.

May I move in with you?

I'm sharing a tiny room with three other girls.

It's so crowded.

I'd hoped to have a happy home when we met again.

I didn't imagine it would be this bad.

It's true.

Still, you're lucky.

Why?

There was no war when you were young, and you got married.

The war ruined everything for kids my age.

That's not true.

Did you have that nice dress made in Korea?

No, I got all my clothes here.

It's very nice. I'll bet it was expensive.

It was.

I had to borrow, and I've only paid off half.

I'll be a dance hostess too.

Don't be ridiculous.

Welcome.

You have company?

Please come in.

Natsuko, this is my boss.

This is the sister I've been trying to find.

We ran into each other today.

I thought I was dreaming.

How nice.

I was concerned when your sister told me about you.

Much obliged.

It must have been hard.

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