Special Series

Woman of the Mist

朧夜の女

Directed by: Heinosuke Gosho
1936 / 111 minutes / Unclassified all ages

A woman’s tale hidden in the fog of sacrifice

Having sacrificed so much for him, hard-working mother Otoku is concerned that her son, Seiichi, is squandering his life and neglecting his law studies. Unsure where else to turn, Otoku asks her brother Bunkichi to step in, hoping some guidance from his uncle will set Seiichi straight. But unbeknownst to Otoku, Bunkichi’s interference with his nephew’s affairs proves more meddlesome than helpful and leads Seiichi into even deeper trouble. Desperate to remedy the situation he unknowingly set in motion, Bunkichi goes to drastic lengths to cover up for his nephew. 

Set in the vibrant Shitamachi district of 1930s downtown Tokyo, this touching story is dotted with glimpses of raucous laughter, flowing sake and the spirited chaos of izakaya culture. Known for directing Japan’s first feature-length film with full sound The Neighbour’s Wife and Mine (1931), Heinosuke Gosho’s melodrama tells the story of a woman’s poignant fate and the powerless men surrounding her. An exploration of the flawed nature of familial responsibility and sacrifice, Woman of the Mist beautifully reveals the burdens women are made to carry—often by the very men who vowed to protect them.