Wife! Be Like a Rose!

Plot

Kimiko, a modern Tokyo office worker, lives with her intellectual, haiku-writing mother who maintains a strict traditional household. When Kimiko decides to marry her boyfriend, she discovers that Japanese custom requires her absent father to act as the official go-between and negotiate the marriage arrangements. Determined to proceed with her wedding plans, Kimiko travels to the countryside to find her estranged father, only to discover he has established a completely new family with a younger woman. The revelation forces Kimiko to confront complex family dynamics, her parents' failed marriage, and the changing social norms in 1930s Japan, ultimately leading her to question her own relationship and the institution of marriage itself.

Historical Background

The film was produced in 1935, during a pivotal period in Japanese history when the country was undergoing rapid modernization while simultaneously experiencing rising militarism and nationalism. Despite the increasing political tensions that would soon lead to World War II, Japanese cinema was experiencing a golden age of artistic expression and technical innovation. The film industry was transitioning from silent to sound films, and studios were experimenting with new genres and storytelling techniques. This period saw the emergence of major directors like Ozu, Mizoguchi, and Naruse, who would define Japanese cinema's golden age. The film's focus on domestic life and women's issues provided a counterpoint to the increasingly militaristic tone of Japanese society, offering audiences a glimpse into the private struggles of ordinary people amid sweeping social changes.

Making Of

Mikio Naruse was still developing his distinctive directorial style when he made this film, having previously worked primarily in silent cinema. The transition to sound presented both technical and artistic challenges, as early sound recording equipment was cumbersome and limited camera movement. Naruse worked closely with his cinematographer to maintain visual dynamism despite these technical constraints. The casting of Sachiko Chiba as Kimiko was a significant decision, as she brought a naturalistic acting style that was ahead of its time in Japanese cinema. The film's production coincided with a period of significant change in the Japanese film industry, as studios were investing heavily in sound technology and competing for audiences with more sophisticated storytelling. Naruse's focus on contemporary social issues and women's perspectives was somewhat unusual for the period, as many Japanese films of the mid-1930s were beginning to reflect the government's increasing emphasis on nationalistic themes.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Suketaro Inokai represents an important transitional work between silent and sound cinema in Japan. Despite the technical limitations of early sound recording equipment, which often restricted camera movement, Inokai and Naruse managed to create visually dynamic compositions that enhance the emotional impact of key scenes. The film uses a combination of studio sets and location shooting to contrast the modern urban environment of Tokyo with the traditional rural setting where Kimiko finds her father. The visual style emphasizes the psychological states of the characters through careful framing and lighting, particularly in scenes depicting the tension between Kimiko and her mother. The cinematography also makes effective use of close-ups to capture the nuanced performances of the cast, particularly Sachiko Chiba's expressive portrayal of Kimiko's emotional journey.

Innovations

As one of the early Japanese sound films, Wife! Be Like a Rose! demonstrated significant technical achievements in the transition from silent to talking pictures. The production team successfully navigated the challenges of early sound recording while maintaining visual sophistication and camera movement. The film's use of both studio and location shooting required innovative solutions for recording clear dialogue in different acoustic environments. The editing techniques employed in the film show a sophisticated understanding of how sound and image could work together to create emotional impact and narrative continuity. The film's preservation and restoration have also been technically noteworthy, allowing modern audiences to appreciate this important work from early Japanese sound cinema.

Music

The film's soundtrack was innovative for its time, representing one of Naruse's early experiments with sound cinema. The score incorporates both traditional Japanese musical elements and more contemporary Western-influenced compositions, reflecting the cultural tensions explored in the narrative. The title song, from which the film takes its name, was a popular tune of the era that helps establish the film's emotional tone and cultural context. The sound design carefully balances dialogue, music, and ambient sounds to create a realistic atmosphere, particularly in scenes contrasting the quiet, intellectual household of Kimiko's mother with the more lively environment of her father's new family. The film's use of sound was particularly impressive given the technical limitations of Japanese recording equipment in the mid-1930s.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence showing Kimiko's modern Tokyo office life contrasted with her traditional home life with her haiku-writing mother
• The tense dinner scene where Kimiko announces her intention to find her father and seek his approval for her marriage
• The emotional confrontation scene when Kimiko discovers her father's second family and must face the reality of his abandonment
• The final reconciliation scene where Kimiko, her mother, and father attempt to bridge their emotional distances
• The montage of Tokyo street life that establishes Kimiko's independence and modern outlook

What Critics Said

Contemporary Japanese critics praised the film for its naturalistic performances and sophisticated handling of family dynamics. The Kinema Junpo film magazine named it one of the best films of 1935, recognizing Naruse's emerging directorial talent. Western critics who discovered the film after its 1947 U.S. release were impressed by its mature themes and technical sophistication, with many noting how it differed from the stereotypical images of Japanese cinema prevalent in the West at the time. Modern film scholars and critics consider the film a crucial early work in Naruse's filmography, highlighting how it contains the seeds of the themes and visual style that would define his later masterpieces. The film is now regarded as an important document of pre-war Japanese cinema and a significant step in the development of the family drama genre.

What Audiences Thought

The film was extremely popular with Japanese audiences upon its release in 1935, becoming one of the box office successes of the year. Viewers particularly connected with Sachiko Chiba's portrayal of Kimiko and the film's realistic depiction of family conflicts and romantic relationships. The story of a young woman navigating traditional expectations while pursuing modern life resonated strongly with urban audiences in 1930s Japan. When the film was finally released in the United States in 1947, American audiences were surprised by its sophisticated approach to family drama and its departure from the exotic or martial arts films that typically represented Japanese cinema in Western markets. Over the decades, the film has maintained its reputation among cinephiles and Naruse enthusiasts as an essential early work that showcases the director's developing mastery of the family drama genre.

You Might Also Like