The Insect Woman
Encyclopedia
is a 1963 film
directed by Japan
ese director Shōhei Imamura
. It was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival
where Sachiko Hidari
won the Silver Bear for Best Actress
award.
) is born to a lower class family in Japan in 1918. The film is a metaphor
for life in Japan through the middle twentieth century, including World War II
. The title refers to an insect, repeating its mistakes, as in an infinite circle. Imamura, with this metaphor, introduces the life of Tome, who keeps trying to change her poor life.
Tome is molested from childhood by her stepfather. As a young adult she moves from her rural village to find work in factory, where she engages in an affair with her boss. She works later as a maid, and then as a prostitute.
1963 in film
The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
directed by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese director Shōhei Imamura
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
. It was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival
14th Berlin International Film Festival
The 14th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 26 to July 7, 1964.-Jury:* Anthony Mann * Hermann Schwerin* Lucas Demare* Jacques Doniol-Valcroze* Yorgos Javellas* Richard Todd* Takashi Hamama* Gerd Ressing...
where Sachiko Hidari
Sachiko Hidari
Sachiko Hidari was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in 42 films between 1952 and 1995. At the 14th Berlin International Film Festival she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for her roles in Kanojo to kare and The Insect Woman...
won the Silver Bear for Best Actress
Silver Bear for Best Actress
The Silver Bear for Best Actress is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for achievement in performance by an actress.-Awards:- External links :*...
award.
Plot
A woman, Tome, (Sachiko HidariSachiko Hidari
Sachiko Hidari was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in 42 films between 1952 and 1995. At the 14th Berlin International Film Festival she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for her roles in Kanojo to kare and The Insect Woman...
) is born to a lower class family in Japan in 1918. The film is a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for life in Japan through the middle twentieth century, including World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The title refers to an insect, repeating its mistakes, as in an infinite circle. Imamura, with this metaphor, introduces the life of Tome, who keeps trying to change her poor life.
Tome is molested from childhood by her stepfather. As a young adult she moves from her rural village to find work in factory, where she engages in an affair with her boss. She works later as a maid, and then as a prostitute.
Cast
- Emiko Aizawa - Rui
- Masumi Harukawa - Midori
- Sachiko HidariSachiko HidariSachiko Hidari was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in 42 films between 1952 and 1995. At the 14th Berlin International Film Festival she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for her roles in Kanojo to kare and The Insect Woman...
- Tome Matsuki - Emiko Higashi - Kane
- Daizaburo Hirata - Kamibayashi
- Seizaburô Kawazu - Karasawa
- Teruko Kishi - Rin
- Tanie KitabayashiTanie Kitabayashiwas a Japanese actress.Born Reiko Ando in Tokyo, she began as a stage actress. Early in her career, she became well known for portraying older women. Kitabayashi was a founding member of the famed Mingei Theatre, founded in 1950. In 1960, she won best actress awards at the 10th Blue Ribbon Awards...
- Madam - Kazuo Kitamura - Chuji
- Asao Koike - Sawakichi
- Masakazu Kuwayama - Owagawa En's Lover
- Hiroyuki NagatoHiroyuki Nagatowas a Japanese actor.Nagato was born in Kyoto. He starred in Season of the Sun, Endless Desire, My Second Brother, Stolen Desire, and Sukeban Deka, and Yo-Yo Girl Cop. He died in Tokyo on May 21, 2011....
- Matsunami - Shoichi Ozawa - Ken
- Sumie Sasaki - En
- Taiji Tonoyama - Foreman
- Shigeru Tsuyuguchi - Honda
- Jitsuko Yoshimura - Nobuko