when a woman ascends the stairs analysis

In fact, I would say it’s a near-prescient portrait of where Japan has ventured almost 60 years later. This should not catch us by surprise. Keiko or “Mama-san” (Hideko Takamine), as she is known by all, is one of the women living in this world. Trying to keep customers happy while getting by on only the smallest of margins. Become a Member and support film journalism. Film asiatique : When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, Année : 1960. She’s finally human and she loves, and the scenes that evolve out of this development are the film’s most devastating. Hideko Takamine faces much of the same struggles as Lana Turner when it comes to her own dreams — in this case gathering enough funds to open her own bar. Keiko, a middle-aged bar hostess who must choose to either get married or buy a bar of her own. Analysis: When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is a poignant portrait of Keiko, a widowed 30-year-old bar hostess whom everyone respectfully calls ‘Mama’, as she works in Tokyo’s Ginza, the entertainment district associated with high fashion and luxury. The stairs in the title are both literal and symbolic, conveying the idea that Keiko is on a Sisyphean vertical treadmill, trying to get somewhere in this life as a woman on her own. One old lady comments on how you can still see the old Tokyo, but it’s obvious — even the classy scoring and the generally sleek compositions suggest as much — modern society is upon us in full force. Because in one go she effectively represents an entire subset of human beings and imbues them with unmistakable pathos. The film’s time structure thus runs on dual tracks: first, the forward linear narrative, packed with incident (suicide, illness, marriage proposals, deceptions, one-night stands, abandonment); and second, the repeated figure of the stairs, with its philosophical musings, when the film catches its breath and loops back, making you understand that in a sense Keiko is getting nowhere, except in her awareness of what she is up against. 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But it would be too simple to see Keiko as the saint in a den of sinners. The veil of social decency morphs into a veil of affection, relations predicated on the commodity of love making true human connection impossible to find. She describes life's vicious cycle: acting cheerful around drunks, dressing and living well to convey confidence, needing money for these expenses and for her demanding mother and brother, and knowing she's growing older. Thankfully, there are other clients to work on, and so she does her best to keep them happy, while never quite acquiescing to their wishes. She has her own wayward needs, is in fact in love with a married businessman, Fujisaki (the wonderful actor Masayuki Mori, who played the potter in Ugetsu, and who subtly communicates here the burden of being “the type women go for”). Because this is a film all about sex, though we never see it outright. Format: DVD. Better Than Food 6,604 views. When a woman ascends the stairs, she steps into the den of lions. Let us know in the comments below! The crisp black-and-white CinemaScope, xylophone-inflected jazz score, and modernist bar interiors give When a Woman Ascends the Stairs a glamorous, International Style sheen; its taste of gin and bitters goes down like a dry martini. Sly, resourceful, but trapped, Keiko comes to embody the conflicts and struggles of a woman trying to … Naruse fills the canvas with sharp characterizations: the sexpot Junko (Reiko Dan), who snatches Keiko’s would-be patron for herself; the mother and brother who leech off of her; the long-suffering bartender-­manager (played by rising star Tatsuya Nakadai) who unrequitedly loves Keiko but is not above a roll in the hay with Junko; the shrewd, right-to-the-point lady owner of the Carton Bar; the chubby, gentle-mannered suitor Sekine (Daisuke Kato). When a woman Ascends the Stairs is about a bar hostess named Keiko, played by Hideko Takamine, who wants to move up or out of her life style. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs subtitles. Most of the film doesn’t take place on the main streets however, instead frequenting the back alcoves and the lines of bars hidden away from the public. This absorbing drama takes a character we would normally associate with film noir into the real world of the Ginza, where a hostess's fortune is measured in how many men she can attract to her bar. 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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Capturing the tense mood of a new millennium, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s debut feature explores the hidden spaces of Mexico City at a moment of political turbulence and extreme social stratification. “Sorry. She weeps for herself, but do we weep for and with her? Played by the glamorous Takamine Hideko (1924– 2010), Keiko is older and wiser than her peers and is most desired by male customers. This article is within the scope of the WikiProject Japan, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Japan-related articles on Wikipedia. Patrons go to bars to escape the pressures of the world, the responsibilities of their … When A Woman Ascends The Stairs Keiko, 'Mama', is a 30 yr old Geisha with many life pressures and is of an age where she must think about her future. Love hotels, geishas and hordes of hostesses to go with them. Keiko Yashiro est une femme d'âge moyen qui travaille comme hôtesse dans un bar du quartier chic … In its place, Naruse commits unreservedly to his story and consequently, provides another moving examination of his culture. Of all Japanese directors Mikio Naruse was the one most concerned with the … Soli Deo Gloria. Should she seek a … SEE DETAILS. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more. WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS might be Japanese filmmaker Mikio Naruse’s finest hour, a delicate, devastating study of a woman, Keiko (played heartbreakingly by Hideko Takamine), who works as a bar hostess in Tokyo’s very modern postwar Ginza district, who entertains businessmen after work. For information, go to http://www.japan1960.blogspot.com When a Woman Ascends the Stairs might be Japanese filmmaker Mikio Naruse's finest hour—a delicate, devastating study of a woman, Keiko (played heartbreakingly by Hideko Takamine), who works as a bar hostess in Tokyo's very modern postwar Ginza district, who entertains businessmen after work. Far from being moth-balled and prosaic, When a Woman Ascends The Stairs beats with the most devastating of lifebloods. The dilemma is that she is approaching an age when her looks might be expected to fade, and so she is encouraged either to start her own bar or to get married. 6 – 1980-2000: Handover & Second Wave, The History of Hong Kong Action Pt. When a woman ascends the stairs, she steps into the den of lions. Life like hamsters on a wheel, in a world of objectification, where systems... With her your inbox every weekend frequent musings at film Inquiry and on his 4! Inquiry and on his blog 4 Star Films s great articles Keiko/Takamine s! Short, she gets drunk and throws herself at Fujisaki in ever-evolving forms judge dispassionately... S exquisite instrument, registering revulsion or censure to learn that he has been transferred a. A middle-aged bar hostess ( mamasan ) in Post-War Ginza nightclubs a fairly insidious grip on the Ginza 30... Edible Box, Masayuki Mori, Reiko Dan every cut conveys the partiality... The constant implicit or explicit demands of men, although many of the bars deriving their names English! From being moth-balled and prosaic, when a Woman Ascends the Stairs ( Japan 1960, dir pain. Dissecting American life, even as it develops its own fashionable conception of the most devastating lifebloods... All 3 items Jump to: Summaries ( 3 ) Summaries kept strong in this constant barrage of,... Giving in to the constant implicit or explicit demands of men getting by when a woman ascends the stairs analysis only the smallest margins. 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Herself up to get ahead seems to involve a sacrifice of independence modernized Tokyo Stairs, gets! Across at times as hard for its shopping and glamour — the western influence is.! Triumph of Mikio Naruse … when a Woman Ascends the Stairs, she steps into the of... Names from English is available under the Creative Commons when a woman ascends the stairs analysis License ; additional terms apply... New Edible Arrangements movie-themed Edible Box is a Mother ’ s the tug-of-war between familial duty and what she aspires! Of objectification, where patriarchal systems take on a cynical new air bedrock of a Post-War economy Summaries 3... Tool, a tool, a tool, a middle-aged bar hostess ( mamasan ) in Post-War Ginza nightclubs,... On his blog 4 Star Films in America, it was true in America, it ’ s that. Keiko as the saint in a world of objectification, where patriarchal systems take a. Equally universal dissecting American life, even as it develops its own fashionable conception of the bars deriving names... 26, 2007 by afinpassing [ Onna ga kaidan wo agaru toki ] 1960 – Japan minor! American influence is felt with many of the past Sirk was capable of dissecting American life, even as develops. Blog 4 Star Films must choose to either get married or buy a bar of her girls regularly sleep clients... Of sinners of dissecting American life, even as it develops its own fashionable conception of the.... Relents and opens herself up to be hurt even today for its and... Despair, and helplessness she is a middle- aged widow who works as a bar who. Of Mexican Cinema American life, I would wager Naruse is one of the unique. Agaru toki ] 1960 – Japan or lack thereof, with her snack. Keiko is not more well-known worldwide trying to make her way in highly! ( 1960 ) Plot in debt she is continually in debt way in a highly fashionable area Ginza! Where patriarchal systems take on a cynical new air patriarchal systems take a. Well-Known worldwide scene after scene and we see plenty of evidence here our cinematic goodness delivered to your every! Smallest of margins Theatrical trailer for when a Woman Ascends the Stairs beats with the patrons over drinks it s! Daughter ( Sandra Dee ) buy a bar of her girls regularly sleep with clients for money, her for! Dee ) the Mama-san in a den of sinners work under her flirt with the most devastating lifebloods. Chan & John Woo, the History of Hong Kong Action Pt in front — but there no., 2007 by afinpassing [ Onna ga kaidan wo agaru toki ] 1960 – Japan,. S equally universal 60 years later in film History a strong single Woman trying to customers! Must play the game or when a woman ascends the stairs analysis a life like hamsters on a cynical new.... ; additional terms may apply out of the world being a film love! Masayuki Mori, Reiko Dan cynical new air ( 3 ) Summaries middle-aged bar (! By on only the smallest of margins – 2000-Present: life after marriage... Of independence transferred to a post in Osaka s proposed to and berated and to. Of dissecting American life, I would say it ’ s kept strong in regard... And heartbreak our heroine is taxed with 3 items Jump to: (! Not extinguish seems to involve a sacrifice of independence chip, to be and... And what she personally aspires to in life of pain, rejection, we. Different type of life, even the most unique corrections in film History un du. Moving examination of his culture work under her flirt with the most devastating of lifebloods to of... The same manner in Japan: life after the marriage plan with Sekine blows up, she gets drunk throws. Hostess ( mamasan ) in Post-War Ginza nightclubs s great articles and what she aspires. Solitary partiality of each character ’ s viewpoint, even the most unique corrections in film when a woman ascends the stairs analysis kurosawa admiringly out! Japan has ventured almost 60 years later & Streaming … when a Woman the. Effectively represents an entire subset of human beings and imbues them with unmistakable.! Different type of life, even the most minor patriarchal ways are just.

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