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| caption = Japanese film poster | caption = Japanese film poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = {{plainlist|* Yuji Ishida | producer = {{plainlist|* Yasuhiro Mase<br>Yuji Ishida


* Hidemi Satami{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=442}}}} * Hidemi Satami{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=442}}}}
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| starring = {{plainlist|* ] | starring = {{plainlist|* ]


* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=442}}}} * ]{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=442}}}}
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{{nihongo|'''''Memories of Matsuko'''''|嫌われ松子の一生|Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō|"Life of despised Matsuko"}} is a 2006 ] written and directed by ]. It is based on a Japanese novel by Muneki Yamada. {{nihongo|'''''Memories of Matsuko'''''|嫌われ松子の一生|Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō|"Life of despised Matsuko"}} is a 2006 Japanese ] ] written and directed by ]. It is based on a Japanese novel by Muneki Yamada.


It has not yet received North American distribution, though in its North American premiere at the 2007 ], the film received the Audience Award with an average rating of 9.2<ref name="nocolon">{{cite web | author=Asian Cinema – While on the Road | year=2007 | url=http://asian-cinema.blogspot.com/2007/07/nyaff-audience-award-and-final-comments.html | title=NYAFF Audience Award and Final Comments | work=Asian Cinema – While on the Road | accessdate=January 8, 2008}}</ref> It has not yet received North American distribution, though in its North American premiere at the 2007 ], the film received the Audience Award with an average rating of 9.2.<ref name="nocolon">{{cite web | author=Asian Cinema – While on the Road | year=2007 | url=http://asian-cinema.blogspot.com/2007/07/nyaff-audience-award-and-final-comments.html | title=NYAFF Audience Award and Final Comments | work=Asian Cinema – While on the Road | access-date=January 8, 2008}}</ref>


==Summary== ==Summary==
{{More plot||date=July 2020}} {{More plot||date=July 2020}}
The story begins with Sho's girlfriend breaking up with him who reasons her decision that he is a bore. Devastated and trying to cope with the situation he is sleeping at home when he is suddenly waken up by his father who is giving him a surprise visit while carrying an urn of ashes of Sho's aunt Matsuko with him. Unbeknownst to Sho his father had another sister, he is being asked to clean up the apartment of her. While cleaning up piles of trash he gradually learns more about the life of his deceased aunt Matsuko. Following a breakup with his girlfriend, Sho Kawajiri sinks into an existential crisis and hides himself at home, before his father, Norio, pays him a surprise visit. Sho is surprised to see an urn with the ashes of his aunt Matsuko, who he has never met. Sho is asked to help clean her old room, and while doing so, he gradually learns more about the life of his estranged aunt.


About Matsuko's earlier life, she had a troubled childhood when she struggled to gain the attention of her father because Matsuko's father's affection was mostly dominated by her chronically ill sister, Kumi, which created an imbalanced rivalry where Matsuko's needs were less likely to be met. During Matsuko's early life, she struggled to gain the attention of her father, who was mostly concerned with her chronically ill sister, Kumi. This created an imbalance where Matsuko's needs were less likely to be met and she constantly feels unloved.


In the 1970 - 1971, Matsuko was a 23 year-old popular junior high school music teacher in ]. However, she was ] by ] when one of her students, Ryu, committed a theft for stealing money from the resthouse that they stay during a school's vacation, Matsuko took the blame for him by stealing another person's money to helping him but then he lied to the vice-principal, this had terrible consequences for her life as she was fired from her job. Furious by the vice-principal's decision, Matsuko return home angrily packing her stuff to leave, despite Kumi try to stop her and was almost got killed by ]. From 1970 to 1971, Matsuko was a very popular junior high school music teacher in ]. However, she was sexually harassed by the vice-principal when one of her students, Ryu, committed theft. Under the pressure to close the case quickly, Matsuko took the blame for him and returned the money by stealing from another person. She tries to get Ryu to confess only to find out that he joins in on the lie accusing her instead in front of the school principals. As a result, Matsuko gets fired from her job. Infuriated by everyone around her betraying her, Matsuko angrily packs her things at home and leaves, despite Kumi's protests.


Few months later, Matsuko's brother, Norio, accidentally met her and Matsuko tell him that she in a relationship with Tetsuya, an unknown manga-writer who always abuse her for money, and she can't get her job as a prostitute. Norio later blame her for destroy the family and give her some money while tell her that Matsuko's father had passed away 3-months after she left. Return home, Tetsuya began to abuse her when she let Tetsuya's enemy, Okano, see his work and walk away until night, she receive a note write: "Please forgive me for being born". At a heavy-rain, she saw Tetsuya there at the road train, with a sorrow face and die at the train came through. She's devastated. Months later, Matsuko's brother, Norio, runs into her and Matsuko tells him that she is in a relationship with Tetsuya, an aspiring but poor writer who regularly abuses her for not able to financially support both of them. Norio blames her for destroying their family and gives her some money while telling her that their father had died 3 months after she left. Returning home, Tetsuya begins to abuse her again after she let Tetsuya's rival writer Okano see his work and walks away. At night, she received a note reading: "Please forgive me for being born". During a rainstorm, Matsuko witnesses Tetsuya commit suicide by standing in front of a train, devastating her.


But in 6-months later, she is in love with Tetsuya's enemy, Okano. Everything went fine until one day, Matsuko show up at his house and his wife respond. After Okano's wife forcing him to confess, he begin to blame Matsuko and break up with her before telling her that she has a beautiful body and give her some money. Because of Okano's word before leaving, Matsuko go audition again for prostitute job and she got hired. A couple month later, Matsuko return home to see her father's diary and cried after she saw every last write of each day said: "No news from Matsuko". Kumi suddenly see her and try to hug her, but Matsuko push her away and ran back into the car. Six months later, Matsuko begins a new relationship with Okano, but hoping to make the relationship more serious, she visits his wife without him knowing. After Okano's wife forces him to confess, he then blames Matsuko and breaks up with her before telling her that he has never loved her and was only attracted to her body. Because of Okano's words before leaving, the devastated Matsuko goes to audition for a prostitute job and gets hired. A few months later after making some money, Matsuko returns home, where she reads her father's diary and is moved to tears at his concern for her disappearance. Kumi sees her and tries to hug her, but Matsuko pushes her away and runs back to her car.


Some time later, Matsuko is in a relationship with Onodera, a pimp. When she asks him for her salary, he nonchalantly replies that he has already given the money to another girl whom he will soon move in with, and the two get into a fight. During the struggle, Onodera pins Matsuko against a dressing mirror and insults her appearance, while Matsuko pulls a knife on Onodera, but he begins to strangle her. On the brink of losing consciousness, Matsuko loses her grip on the knife, which lands on Onodera's foot. As he wails over his injury and threatens to sue Matsuko, she seizes the opportunity to stab Onodera to death. Afterwards, she tries to commit suicide by jumping off the building, but is ultimately unable to, as her hands instinctively held onto the railings.
At 26-year-old, she is in a relationship with Onodera, a fake-rich man who like young girls. When she ask him for her 6-month-paid, he give the money the other girl so she begin to fight him which led to the result of killing him.


Back at the present, Sho find out that his girlfriend will break up with him and she will be going to ] to join the ]. He also had a very stranged dream that a porn-star actress come and kidnap him, she later rewiew that her name is Megumi Sawamura, Matsuko's best friend and they know each other at prison. In the present, Sho discovers that his ex-girlfriend will be going to ] with the ]. He also has a dream where a porn actress comes and kidnap him; the same actress later reveals herself to be Megumi Sawamura, Matsuko's best friend who knew each other in prison.


Back at Matsuko's memory, after killing Onodera then she went to the train station to go to ]. She want suicide at ] to reunited with Tetsuya, but she later met Keji Shimazu, a barber, and he later gave Matsuko a new haircut at his salon. They go make out that night and from that day, she became his assistant at the salon and Keji had swear with her that he will always love her despite her past. But in one day, the police came and capture her for Onodera's murder, she got 8-years in prison. When she was release, she find out that Keji has now married and had a son. Back in the past, following Onodera's death, Matsuko boards a train to ], where she intends to commit suicide at the ]. However, she is stopped by Keji Shimazu, a barber who later gives Matsuko a new haircut at his salon. They make love that night and she becomes his assistant after Keji swears that he will always love her despite her past. Shortly after however, Matsuko is arrested for Onodera's murder, and she is sentenced to eight years in prison. After her release, she tries to go back to Keji, only to discover that he has since gotten married and already has a son.


Back at the present, Megumi take Sho to dinner and tell him that she met Matsuko at a salon in ] where Matsuko worked, and they begin a friendship and alway hang out together. But at one night, they went drunking to Megumi's house and hearing Megumi's husband voice speak, Matsuko want to back to her home and lonely again at her birthday. Megumi also remind Sho about the time that Matsuko want to remove the friendship after she quit her job at the salon and have another relationship a with a violent people. And also the time that she saw Matsuko before her dead, she tried to talk to her but the only thing she could do is give her business card to Matsuko. Megumi told Sho that he must alway remember that Matsuko is still with him whenever he think about her. After taking Sho back to Matsuko's house, she gave him 3 of her lastest movie and a kiss in the limo. Back at home, a stranged man come in and try to ask Sho in attack. He want to know where is Matsuko and after knowing that Matsuko is dead, he blame himself and review his name is Ryu, Matsuko ex-student. In the present, Megumi takes Sho to dinner and tells him that she met Matsuko again at a salon after her release in ] where Matsuko worked. They quickly became best friends. But at one night after drinking together, they went to Megumi's house and hearing Megumi's husband's voice speak at the doorstep, the jealous Matsuko decides to go back to her home and be alone again at her birthday. Megumi also tells Sho about the time that Matsuko wanted to end their friendship after she quit her job at the salon, and the last time she saw Matsuko before her death, where all she could do was give her business card to Matsuko. Megumi tells Sho that he must always remember that Matsuko is still with him whenever he thinks about her, and takes him back to Matsuko's house. However, a man enters and attacks Sho, demanding to know where Matsuko is; he is dejected upon learning of her death, and reveals himself to be Ryu.


Back at Matsuko's memory, Ryu is now a ] and have see her at the salon. Matsuko later want him to take her home and she begin tell him everything has happened to her. Ryu was regret about his action has cause her life miserable because he is the one who stealing money and was because he is crazy in love with her. Matsuko forgive him about everything and they are now madly in love with each other. But in one day, Matsuko told Ryu that she has quit her job at the salon and she also tried stop him going back to be ]. After Megumi has try to stop her, she confess with Ryu that no matter what Ryu become, she will always love him. From that day on, she live for Ryu and got some several job to make money from Ryu's offer. But then one day, while Matsuko dreaming about having a family then Ryu call her told her to pack everything and go to the Wakaba hotel to meet him. he was covered in blood because he was gambling and losing money from the ] so they beat him. When Matsuko mention about starting a family, Ryu push her out and begin to call the police to save her while lied that he has kill her. At Ryu's time in prison, Matsuko still love him and always waiting for him while Ryu keep regretting about ruining her life again and want to leave her alone. As Matsuko is 40-year-old, Ryu was release from prison and Matsuko welcomed him but he punched her and ran away, leaving Matsuko lonely again. Ryu went to the church and begin to ask for forgiving. Back in the past, Ryu has since become a ], and reunites with Matsuko at the salon. Later, she has him take her home, and she begins to tell him everything that has happened to her. Ryu is remorseful for causing her misery, especially since he is in love with her, but Matsuko forgives him and returns his feelings. They soon start a relationship. One day, Matsuko tells Ryu that she has quit her job at the salon, while also trying to stop him from going back to the yakuza. Ryu refuses and also starts hitting and abusing her. After Megumi tries to warn her, she pledges that no matter what Ryu becomes, she will always love him. Unable to stop Ryu, Matsuko also goes back to prostitution and joins various crime activities. Some time later, Ryu asks Matsuko to meet him at a hotel, where she finds him severely beaten by the yakuza due to his gambling debts. Chased by the yakuza, Ryu wants to commit suicide together with Matsuko but eventually fails to do so. When Matsuko mentions starting a family, Ryu pushes her out and calls the police to confess, which gives Matsuko time to escape. Afterwards, Ryu is arrested and sent to prison; Matsuko faithfully awaits his release, but Ryu continues to regret his actions against Matsuko and wishes to leave her alone to save her from further harm. Following Ryu's release from prison, Matsuko welcomes him back, but he hits her before running away, leaving her alone again.


Back at the present, Ryu was so regretting that he want to kill himself but the police arrive and Ryu say loud that he killed Matsuko and began the fight with the police. While one officer told Sho that they have capture the real Matsuko's murder and they just try to ask him some question. Sho began to call his dad, Norio, tell him everything and wish that he could see her one day. But Norio replied that he has met her before and he tell that when Sho was little, he met a woman who is sitting at the riverbank and didn't know that was Matsuko. Norio was there and begin to take her to the train station, while telling her that Kumi has passed away at last year's fall and her final word is: "Welcomed back, sister". After arriving, Norio told her that never come back. Sho then tell Norio that she rent a house near the river and always come to bank and cry. Which make Norio also cried too. In the present, a regretful Ryu plans on killing himself, but the police suddenly arrive, and Ryu loudly proclaims that he killed Matsuko before getting into a fight with the police. However, one officer tells Sho that they already have the actual murderer and were just trying to ask him some questions. Sho tells Norio that he wishes that he could have met his aunt, but Norio reveals that when Sho was still young, he already encountered her sitting at the riverbank, when Norio was taking her to the train station. After revealing that Kumi has passed away the previous year, he tells her to never come back. Sho then tells Norio that she rented a house near the river and would always cry by the riverbank, driving Norio to tears.


Back at Matsuko's memory, she is now rent a house near the river at ] and live there for the rest of her life. She is now never believe in anyone and just eating and drinking day to day. Until one day, she saw on TV and begin to crush the ] leader, Kohji Uchiumi. She began to buy everything that has his face on, watching the live performance and writing fan-letter to him. But then one day, she was furious when Kohji didn't respond her. Back in the past, Matsuko rents a house near the river at ], where she spends her days doing nothing but eating and drinking. One day, she sees a performance by ] on TV, and develops a crush on its leader, Kohji Uchiumi. She begins to buy all his merchandise, watching live performances and writing fan-letters to him, but becomes furious when he does not reply.


At 51-year-old, she began to lose control of herself and begin to write "Please forgive me for being born" at the wall. In July 9 2001, at 53-year-old, she went to the hospital to get the medicine, Megumi saw her try to talk to her but she refused. Soon Megumi told her that her is looking for someone to do hairstylish and give her the business card. Matsuko is sitting at the riverbank, refuse Megumi's offer. But when she had a dream that she is cutting Kumi's hair to make it tidy, she woke up and went back to the riverbank to find Megumi's business card. A gang of junior high school students who is playing outside suddenly one of them accidentally hit a can on her, Matsuko told them to go back home but when she turn a round, one of the kid hit her in the head and the rest of them beating her to dead. Eventually, she begins to lose control of herself and starts to write the phrase: "Please forgive me for being born" on her walls. While out to get medicine, Megumi sees her and tries to talk to her, but is rebuffed. Afterwards, Megumi tells her that she is looking for a hairdresser and gives her a business card, but Matsuko refuses Megumi's offer. That night, she has a dream of cutting Kumi's hair, and she is inspired to find Megumi's business card that she had previously discarded. Meanwhile, she encounters a gang of high school students who try to bully her, but when she tells them to go back home, one of the students hits her in the head and the rest of them beat her to death.


Later on, a light appear in front of Matsuko and her soul is travelling back in time to her house. Matsuko soul is standing in front of the heaven's staircase, where Kumi is waiting for her. She began to climb up the stair and at the top, Kumi welcomed her back. Afterwards, a light appears in front of Matsuko and her soul travels back in time to her house. Eventually, Matsuko's soul stands in front of staircase to heaven, where Kumi is waiting for her and welcomes her back.


==Cast== ==Cast==
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'''Matsuko's family''' '''Matsuko's family'''
* ] – Matsuko Kawajiri (川尻 松子 ''Kawajiri Matsuko'') * ] – Matsuko Kawajiri (川尻 松子 ''Kawajiri Matsuko'')
* Kana Okunoya – younger Matsuko Kawajiri * ] – younger Matsuko Kawajiri
* ] – Sho Kawajiri (川尻 笙 ''Kawajiri Shō''): Matsuko's nephew. He moved to Tokyo to become a musician. * ] – Sho Kawajiri (川尻 笙 ''Kawajiri Shō''): Matsuko's nephew. He moved to Tokyo to become a musician.
* ] – Kozo Kawajiri (川尻 恒造 ''Kawajiri Kōzō''): Matsuko's father. He has a sad and distant demeanour to Matsuko due to Kumi's illness. * ] – Kozo Kawajiri (川尻 恒造 ''Kawajiri Kōzō''): Matsuko's father. He has a sad and distant demeanour to Matsuko due to Kumi's illness.
* ] – Norio Kawajiri (川尻 紀夫 ''Kawajiri Norio''): Matsuko's brother. He is resentful of Matsuko because she destroyed the family. * ] – Norio Kawajiri (川尻 紀夫 ''Kawajiri Norio''): Matsuko's brother. He is resentful of Matsuko because she destroyed the family.
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===Home media=== ===Home media===
The film has been released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray by ].<ref>http://thirdwindowfilms.com/films/memories-of-matsuko</ref> The film has been released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray by ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thirdwindowfilms.com/films/memories-of-matsuko|title = Memories of Matsuko &#124; Third Window Films|date = 8 February 2018}}</ref>


==Awards== ==Awards==
2007 The Asian Film Awards - Best Actress Miki Nakatani, Best visual effect, Masahide Yanagawase, Best arts direct, Towako Kuwashima 2007 ] - Best Actress ], Best visual effect, Masahide Yanagawase, Best arts direct, Towako Kuwashima


2007 Japanese Academy Award Winner - Best Actress, Best Music, Best Editing 2007 Japanese Academy Award Winner - Best Actress, Best Music, Best Editing
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{{Refbegin}} {{Refbegin}}


* {{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |publisher=Scarecrow Press |date=2008 |isbn=1461673747 |ref=harv|authorlink=Stuart Galbraith IV}} * {{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |publisher=Scarecrow Press |date=2008 |isbn=978-1461673743 |authorlink=Stuart Galbraith IV}}


{{Refend}} {{Refend}}
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* in Japanese * in Japanese
*{{IMDb title|id=0768120|title=Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō}} *{{IMDb title|id=0768120|title=Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō}}
* {{Amg movie|380720|Memories of Matsuko}}
* *


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Latest revision as of 02:10, 22 December 2024

2006 Japanese film
Memories of Matsuko
Japanese film poster
Directed byTetsuya Nakashima
Screenplay byTetsuya Nakashima
Based onA novel
by Muneki Yamada
Produced by
  • Yasuhiro Mase
    Yuji Ishida
  • Hidemi Satami
Starring
CinematographyMasakazu Ato
Edited byYoshiyuki Koike
Music byGabriele Roberto
Production
companies
  • Amuse Soft Entertainment
  • Kiraware Matusko no issho
  • Tokyo Broadcasting Committee
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • 27 May 2006 (2006-05-27)
Running time130 minutes
CountryJapan
Box office$9,578,449

Memories of Matsuko (嫌われ松子の一生, Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō, "Life of despised Matsuko") is a 2006 Japanese tragicomedy musical film written and directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. It is based on a Japanese novel by Muneki Yamada.

It has not yet received North American distribution, though in its North American premiere at the 2007 New York Asian Film Festival, the film received the Audience Award with an average rating of 9.2.

Summary

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Following a breakup with his girlfriend, Sho Kawajiri sinks into an existential crisis and hides himself at home, before his father, Norio, pays him a surprise visit. Sho is surprised to see an urn with the ashes of his aunt Matsuko, who he has never met. Sho is asked to help clean her old room, and while doing so, he gradually learns more about the life of his estranged aunt.

During Matsuko's early life, she struggled to gain the attention of her father, who was mostly concerned with her chronically ill sister, Kumi. This created an imbalance where Matsuko's needs were less likely to be met and she constantly feels unloved.

From 1970 to 1971, Matsuko was a very popular junior high school music teacher in Ōkawa, Fukuoka. However, she was sexually harassed by the vice-principal when one of her students, Ryu, committed theft. Under the pressure to close the case quickly, Matsuko took the blame for him and returned the money by stealing from another person. She tries to get Ryu to confess only to find out that he joins in on the lie accusing her instead in front of the school principals. As a result, Matsuko gets fired from her job. Infuriated by everyone around her betraying her, Matsuko angrily packs her things at home and leaves, despite Kumi's protests.

Months later, Matsuko's brother, Norio, runs into her and Matsuko tells him that she is in a relationship with Tetsuya, an aspiring but poor writer who regularly abuses her for not able to financially support both of them. Norio blames her for destroying their family and gives her some money while telling her that their father had died 3 months after she left. Returning home, Tetsuya begins to abuse her again after she let Tetsuya's rival writer Okano see his work and walks away. At night, she received a note reading: "Please forgive me for being born". During a rainstorm, Matsuko witnesses Tetsuya commit suicide by standing in front of a train, devastating her.

Six months later, Matsuko begins a new relationship with Okano, but hoping to make the relationship more serious, she visits his wife without him knowing. After Okano's wife forces him to confess, he then blames Matsuko and breaks up with her before telling her that he has never loved her and was only attracted to her body. Because of Okano's words before leaving, the devastated Matsuko goes to audition for a prostitute job and gets hired. A few months later after making some money, Matsuko returns home, where she reads her father's diary and is moved to tears at his concern for her disappearance. Kumi sees her and tries to hug her, but Matsuko pushes her away and runs back to her car.

Some time later, Matsuko is in a relationship with Onodera, a pimp. When she asks him for her salary, he nonchalantly replies that he has already given the money to another girl whom he will soon move in with, and the two get into a fight. During the struggle, Onodera pins Matsuko against a dressing mirror and insults her appearance, while Matsuko pulls a knife on Onodera, but he begins to strangle her. On the brink of losing consciousness, Matsuko loses her grip on the knife, which lands on Onodera's foot. As he wails over his injury and threatens to sue Matsuko, she seizes the opportunity to stab Onodera to death. Afterwards, she tries to commit suicide by jumping off the building, but is ultimately unable to, as her hands instinctively held onto the railings.

In the present, Sho discovers that his ex-girlfriend will be going to Uzbekistan with the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. He also has a dream where a porn actress comes and kidnap him; the same actress later reveals herself to be Megumi Sawamura, Matsuko's best friend who knew each other in prison.

Back in the past, following Onodera's death, Matsuko boards a train to Tokyo, where she intends to commit suicide at the Tamagawa Aqueduct. However, she is stopped by Keji Shimazu, a barber who later gives Matsuko a new haircut at his salon. They make love that night and she becomes his assistant after Keji swears that he will always love her despite her past. Shortly after however, Matsuko is arrested for Onodera's murder, and she is sentenced to eight years in prison. After her release, she tries to go back to Keji, only to discover that he has since gotten married and already has a son.

In the present, Megumi takes Sho to dinner and tells him that she met Matsuko again at a salon after her release in Ginza where Matsuko worked. They quickly became best friends. But at one night after drinking together, they went to Megumi's house and hearing Megumi's husband's voice speak at the doorstep, the jealous Matsuko decides to go back to her home and be alone again at her birthday. Megumi also tells Sho about the time that Matsuko wanted to end their friendship after she quit her job at the salon, and the last time she saw Matsuko before her death, where all she could do was give her business card to Matsuko. Megumi tells Sho that he must always remember that Matsuko is still with him whenever he thinks about her, and takes him back to Matsuko's house. However, a man enters and attacks Sho, demanding to know where Matsuko is; he is dejected upon learning of her death, and reveals himself to be Ryu.

Back in the past, Ryu has since become a yakuza, and reunites with Matsuko at the salon. Later, she has him take her home, and she begins to tell him everything that has happened to her. Ryu is remorseful for causing her misery, especially since he is in love with her, but Matsuko forgives him and returns his feelings. They soon start a relationship. One day, Matsuko tells Ryu that she has quit her job at the salon, while also trying to stop him from going back to the yakuza. Ryu refuses and also starts hitting and abusing her. After Megumi tries to warn her, she pledges that no matter what Ryu becomes, she will always love him. Unable to stop Ryu, Matsuko also goes back to prostitution and joins various crime activities. Some time later, Ryu asks Matsuko to meet him at a hotel, where she finds him severely beaten by the yakuza due to his gambling debts. Chased by the yakuza, Ryu wants to commit suicide together with Matsuko but eventually fails to do so. When Matsuko mentions starting a family, Ryu pushes her out and calls the police to confess, which gives Matsuko time to escape. Afterwards, Ryu is arrested and sent to prison; Matsuko faithfully awaits his release, but Ryu continues to regret his actions against Matsuko and wishes to leave her alone to save her from further harm. Following Ryu's release from prison, Matsuko welcomes him back, but he hits her before running away, leaving her alone again.

In the present, a regretful Ryu plans on killing himself, but the police suddenly arrive, and Ryu loudly proclaims that he killed Matsuko before getting into a fight with the police. However, one officer tells Sho that they already have the actual murderer and were just trying to ask him some questions. Sho tells Norio that he wishes that he could have met his aunt, but Norio reveals that when Sho was still young, he already encountered her sitting at the riverbank, when Norio was taking her to the train station. After revealing that Kumi has passed away the previous year, he tells her to never come back. Sho then tells Norio that she rented a house near the river and would always cry by the riverbank, driving Norio to tears.

Back in the past, Matsuko rents a house near the river at Kita-Senju Station, where she spends her days doing nothing but eating and drinking. One day, she sees a performance by Hikaru Genji on TV, and develops a crush on its leader, Kohji Uchiumi. She begins to buy all his merchandise, watching live performances and writing fan-letters to him, but becomes furious when he does not reply.

Eventually, she begins to lose control of herself and starts to write the phrase: "Please forgive me for being born" on her walls. While out to get medicine, Megumi sees her and tries to talk to her, but is rebuffed. Afterwards, Megumi tells her that she is looking for a hairdresser and gives her a business card, but Matsuko refuses Megumi's offer. That night, she has a dream of cutting Kumi's hair, and she is inspired to find Megumi's business card that she had previously discarded. Meanwhile, she encounters a gang of high school students who try to bully her, but when she tells them to go back home, one of the students hits her in the head and the rest of them beat her to death.

Afterwards, a light appears in front of Matsuko and her soul travels back in time to her house. Eventually, Matsuko's soul stands in front of staircase to heaven, where Kumi is waiting for her and welcomes her back.

Cast

Matsuko's family

  • Miki Nakatani – Matsuko Kawajiri (川尻 松子 Kawajiri Matsuko)
  • Kana Okunoya – younger Matsuko Kawajiri
  • Eita – Sho Kawajiri (川尻 笙 Kawajiri Shō): Matsuko's nephew. He moved to Tokyo to become a musician.
  • Akira Emoto – Kozo Kawajiri (川尻 恒造 Kawajiri Kōzō): Matsuko's father. He has a sad and distant demeanour to Matsuko due to Kumi's illness.
  • Teruyuki Kagawa – Norio Kawajiri (川尻 紀夫 Kawajiri Norio): Matsuko's brother. He is resentful of Matsuko because she destroyed the family.
  • Mikako Ichikawa – Kumi Kawajiri (川尻 久美 Kawajiri Kumi): Matsuko's ill sister.

Matsuko's men

  • Yusuke Iseya – Youichi Ryu (龍 洋一 Ryū Yōichi): A former student of Matsuko. He was one of the reasons Matsuko's life changed for the worse. He becomes a yakuza when he grow up.
  • Shosuke Tanihara – Shunji Saeki (佐伯 俊二 Saeki Shunji): A colleague teacher whom Matsuko thinks fondly of when she still works in school.
  • Kankuro Kudo – Tetsuya Yamekawa: An aspiring writer who believes he is Osamu Dazai's rebirth.
  • Gekidan Hitori – Takeo Okano (岡野 健夫 Okano Takeo): Tetsuya's rival, also an aspiring writer.
  • Ryo Arakawa - Kenji Shimazu: A barber who stops Matsuko from committing suicide.
  • Shinji Takeda - Yasushi Onodera: An aspiring pimp who was killed by Matsuko.

Other

  • Asuka Kurosawa – Megumi Sawamura (沢村 めぐみ Sawamura Megumi): Matsuko's best friend. Former stripper and now porn-star actress as "Aoi Mizusawa". She owns an adult film company.
  • Bonnie Pink – Ayano (綾乃)
  • Nagisa Katahira – herself
  • Sora Aoi

Release

Initial Release

Memories of Matsuko was distributed theatrically in Japan on May 26, 2006 by Toho. The film won Miki Nakatani the award for Best Actress (along with her work in Lof and Christmas on July 24) and Best Actress at the Mainichi Film Concours and Japanese Academy Awards. The film also won Best Editing and Best Music Score at the Japanese Academy Awards.

Home media

The film has been released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray by Third Window Films.

Awards

2007 1st Asian Film Awards - Best Actress Miki Nakatani, Best visual effect, Masahide Yanagawase, Best arts direct, Towako Kuwashima

2007 Japanese Academy Award Winner - Best Actress, Best Music, Best Editing

2006 Japanese Professional Award Winner - Best Actress

Notes

  1. ^ Galbraith IV 2008, p. 442.
  2. "Memories of Matsuko". Boxofficemojo. Retrieved March 04, 2012.
  3. Asian Cinema – While on the Road (2007). "NYAFF Audience Award and Final Comments". Asian Cinema – While on the Road. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
  4. "Memories of Matsuko | Third Window Films". 8 February 2018.

References

External links

Films directed by Tetsuya Nakashima
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