Movielogr

Rating: 7 stars

Tags

Japan Criterion world war ii WWII factory military

All movies seen on 11/29/2013

View on: IMDb | TMDb

The Most Beautiful (1944)

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

Drama | War

Overview

Young women at a precision optics factory in wartime Japan push to exceed production quotas, enduring illness, injury, and personal hardship to “serve the country.” Led by Tsuru Watanabe, they fight fatigue and setbacks to keep their line moving—even when duty collides with grief.

Length 85 minutes

Actors

Takashi Shimura | Shôji Kiyokawa | Ichirô Sugai | Takako Irie | Yôko Yaguchi | Sayuri Tanima | Sachiko Ozaki | Shizuko Nishigaki | Asako Suzuki | Haruko Toyama | Aiko Masu | Kazuko Hitomi | Shizuko Yamada | Itoko Kôno | Emiko Rei | Haruko Mii | Minori Toyohara | Eiko Hirayama | Harue Yamashita | Mineko Mashiro | Isuzu Miyakawa | Michiko Oikawa | Teruko Kato | Akitake Kôno | Unpei Yokoyama | Chieko Nakakita | Koyuri Tanima

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

My 5th film for my Kurosawa week and yet another Frank Capra-esque heartfelt drama. Certainly a lesser Kurosawa yet still a fine film with wonderful moments expressing the Japanese diligence and determination to work and serve their nation as communicated through the efforts of young women assembling parts for the military.

Of course Takashi Shimura is top billed despite being in the movie for maybe 3 minutes. Would’ve liked to have seen a bigger role in this film.

Comments