Machiko Kyô came home pregnant by a young student. The child was stillborn, but the rural family fell apart. Her loving older brother, Masayuki Mori, tormented her until she left for Tokyo, to pursue a life of a prostitute. She comes home to visit occasionally, but her family doesn't know where she lives. When the student she had the affair with comes to find her in hopes of making amends, Mori nearly kills him for what he did and what she has become. Today, Machiko arrives for a festival, with presents.
This is the second of three screen versions of the novel by Saisei Murô. With Mikio Naruse directing, it is probably as good as it can get. Miss Kyô's performance is clearly a performance for the benefit of Mori, whom she still loves, even as he brutalizes her. It's not really a story; no one changes. However, the audience gets to see the revelation of character and can perceive that love can persist, no matter how poorly it is expressed.
This is the second of three screen versions of the novel by Saisei Murô. With Mikio Naruse directing, it is probably as good as it can get. Miss Kyô's performance is clearly a performance for the benefit of Mori, whom she still loves, even as he brutalizes her. It's not really a story; no one changes. However, the audience gets to see the revelation of character and can perceive that love can persist, no matter how poorly it is expressed.