The Narusian Setsuko Hara by Richie Abraham | The Great Acting Blog
Richie Abraham is a cinephile who lives and works in Mumbai, and whose regular comments on this blog have been wonderfully intelligent and insightful, and at times mindblowing. And so it is I am delighted to be presenting The Great Acting Blog’s very first guest post, which I think is an excellent exploration of our great and mysterious art form. James.
Mikio Naruse was one of the great Japanese directors who made quick movies pertaining to his personal vision of the suffering of women in contemporary Japan. Repast is one of his masterpieces and a personal favourite of mine. It stars the inimitable Setsuko Hara (Michiyo) and the assured Ken Uehara (Mr Okamoto) as the middle-class couple who are parading through an unprepossessing lifeless marriage immersed in ennui. This routine turns haywire when they face an unexpected visit of Okamoto’s flirtatious young cousin who turns their married life upside down. The events that follow prove to be the push that Michiyo needed to search for her own identity. This plot conforms with the usual Narusian motifs of the female tragedy and the tenacity and fortitude that the women portray in light of these gargantuan struggles that never seem to end. Like almost all his films , this film too ends with an acceptance, not a meek or surrendering one but rather a brave enlightening one. But here for a change we don’t witness it as a tragedy but rather as a reinforcement of the spirit, a realization of the nature of marital suffering making it one of Naruse’s least pessimistic films.
Setsuko Hara who is widely known for her Noriko trilogy with Ozu gives a stellar performance which at least to me overshadows her fabulous work as the endearing daughter in her films with Ozu. We still witness the smile that moved us in Ozu but it is supplemented with a restless restraint which forms a dulcet counterpoint. The only other performance of a wanting housewife that I could compare it with, would be of Soumitra Chatterjee in Charulata. Every single time I view this movie , it unveils a newer dimension to her character. It thrusts the basic question “What is the nature of Acting?” ,” What does it mean to deliver a genuine effective performance?”
Acting in the most theoretical terms should be the process of subjecting the actor’s own conscious self to the sense experiences of ‘the character’ being portraying and responding to them as ‘he himself’ would with a certain predestined intention. It is important to note that the character is just a notion, a concept, of which the actor is the corporeal manifestation. This process involves projecting his self into the space-time zone of the character. The success of the performance then depends on both his seamless projection into the character and his own responses to the perceived sense experiences. To bring Bresson , this character ( as a part of the director’s world ) is born in the Director’s mind and dies on his script ; is brought to life by the actor again when he lives it ; dies again on the screen and then lives an individual personal life for an eternity in the consciousness of the viewer. Thus when we witness an honest portrayal of a particular character it is the honesty of the actor that reaches to us through the mise-en-scene of the director. It becomes imperative for the actor to be infallibly honest to the sense experiences that he must subject his consciousness to. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the director to create the mise-en-scene which form a medium through which the performance reaches out to this world that the director has in his mind.
Such instances of masterful direction and acting abound in this film. Naruse never looms on Michiyo’s face searching for reactions, he only provides glimpses of them and every single time they unleash a torrent of emotions. In one of the memorable scenes of the film, when Michiyo comes back home from a visit to her friends to find out how her husband and his cousin have paid no heed to what she said prior to leaving, Naruse unfolds all her reactions and her husband’s responses in a completely matter of fact way. We are provided with semi close ups of both characters and emotion is mightily conveyed through the disdain that Michiyo shows when she hurries thr
ough her chores. The scene ends with a priceless expression followed by Michiyo turning back to her cat and him relaxing on the floor smoking a cigarette. What follows in the plot seems completely inevitable after this encounter.
Okamoto’s utter indifference seems to have stemmed more out of the habits of their married life. Michiyo exclaims at one point “You only see food when you see me”. His indifference ignites a desire in Michiyo to find meaning in her life. She leaves him and goes to tokyo and starts looking for a job. But there is no escapism in Naruse. A running irony throughout the plot is how everyone who greets Okamoto takes his married life for granted as he has such a beautiful wife and everytime he nods with an unwilling conformism wondering how he has forgotten to spot this beauty. The film ends when Okamoto arrives at Tokyo asking her to come back. This scene immediately bring to mind the finale of Rossellini’s “Voyage to Italy “ but its not a miracle here. It is Michiyo’s resolve that brings about this change. She has searched her soul and that feeling of resolve she filled herself with once, now seems to her an erroneous moment of caprice.
Michiyo is an endearing woman played with impeccable grace and restraint. One leaves the film carrying this brilliant characterisation of Miss Hara forever.
Subscribe To The Great Acting Blog
raetilohy1974/ 30.03.2012
Thank you for the article, very useful piece of writing. <br><a href="http://mbiencegroup.com">mbiencegroup</a>
Torie Ransler/ 27.04.2022
Explain this Shit
Turkey tail mushroom capsule/ 21.04.2023
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More here to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
다시보기/ 23.06.2023
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
nagaqq/ 17.07.2023
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
คาสิโนสด/ 20.10.2023
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 11117 additional Information to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
Treva Wisniewski/ 12.12.2023
Cool article it’s really. Friend on mine has long been awaiting just for this content.
เปิดบัญชีเทรด Forex/ 29.01.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
Johnnyglato/ 29.01.2024
https://continent-telecom.com/virtual-number-usa
MichaelNom/ 29.01.2024
https://virtual-local-numbers.com/countries/1394-cleveland-virtual-phone-number.html
continent telecom/ 06.02.2024
You were visited simply with a brilliant idea
continent telecom/ 07.02.2024
I apologise, but, in my opinion, you are mistaken. I can prove it. Write to me in PM.
Fake 50 Euros/ 08.02.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More here to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
virtual local numbers/ 11.02.2024
Joking aside!
virtual local numbers/ 11.02.2024
I consider, that you are mistaken. I suggest it to discuss. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.
Jessetag/ 22.02.2024
https://virtual-local-numbers.com/countries/6-spain.html
Jessetag/ 22.02.2024
https://virtual-local-numbers.com/countries/7-canada.html
avenue17/ 28.02.2024
In my opinion you are not right. Let’s discuss.
avenue17/ 28.02.2024
I think, that you are not right. I am assured.
รับซ่อมเครื่องออกกำลังกาย/ 03.03.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
สูตรสล็อต pg ใช้ได้จริง 2024/ 04.03.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
Stevenoxype/ 11.03.2024
https://reactos.org/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=96197
Stevenoxype/ 11.03.2024
https://hub.docker.com/u/rentacarveronacom
รับทำเว็บ WordPress/ 16.04.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
Highbay/ 02.05.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 46026 additional Info to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
drover sointeru/ 05.05.2024
Superb post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thanks!
รับซื้อ iPhone/ 05.06.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
sell weapons/ 17.06.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
buy usa number for sms/ 18.06.2024
sign up for a google number
Buy SMTP/ 24.06.2024
La guÃa sobre la gestión de las bajas de suscripción fue extremadamente útil.
Buy stripe account verified/ 09.07.2024
Top high risk payment processors reviewed.
burnout/ 11.07.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
Achetez yirala en ligne en toute confidentialité/ 03.08.2024
wo man Medikamente in der Apotheke findet Apotex Isola delle Femmine medicamentos con descuento en venta
losartan kaufen österreich/ 14.08.2024
Medikamente ohne ärztliches Rezept in der Schweiz kaufen Liferpal Dosquebradas prix des tablettes australie
vizarsin verkrijgbaar zonder recept in Spanje/ 15.08.2024
medicijnen kopen in Duitsland MSD Nanterre prezzo di farmaci a Firenze
กระเบื้องยาง SPC ราคา/ 18.08.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
comprar medicamentos en línea sin prescripción 1a pharma Worb/ 19.08.2024
Tipps für den legalen Kauf von Medikamente in Amsterdam Cephalon Munstergeleen achat de médicaments
de la marque Mylan
farmaci disponibile in farmacia a Palermo Medifive Beek/ 19.08.2024
medicijnen kopen zonder voorschrift online Fortbenton Leobersdorf Commandez votre traitement à
la médicaments en ligne
estradiol a prezzo accessibile a Napoli/ 19.08.2024
medicijnen zonder doktersrecept te bestellen Mylan Lincoln medicamentos recommandé pour les problèmes de conception
medicijnen tegen betaalbare prijs in België Mylan Pontault-Combault/ 20.08.2024
kaufe Medikamente online in Brüssel Kern Den Hoorn médicaments en Belgique sans prescription
Easy Access to phenimixin Online Pharmacy/ 20.08.2024
dónde encontrar medicamentos Chemopharma Barbosa Precios bajos en tabletas
farmaci da acquistare online in Italia Amcal Freienbach/ 20.08.2024
medicijnen zonder voorschrift online kopen Genfar Concorezzo precio de medicamentos en Marruecos
Veilige online apotheek voor urispas in Nederland/ 21.08.2024
Encontrar medicamentos para comprar Mochida Etten-Leur médicaments en pharmacie
en ligne française
Guaranteed merchant account approval/ 21.08.2024
Implement internal controls to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards governing financial operations.
acheter des medicaments sans ordonnance en ligne Novartis Felixdorf/ 24.08.2024
¿Dónde encontrar medicamentos? sandoz Harelbeke médicaments : durée du traitement et suivi médical
Dont Click/ 25.08.2024
If you click you will be surprised!
acheter des médicaments similaires Bioindustria Soesterberg/ 26.08.2024
Trouvez médicaments en ligne en France Arena Tarbes Medikamente in Belgien leicht
kaufen
Make Money Online 3 Secret Method 2024/ 28.08.2024
if you wish to make money online from home with using your mobile you just need one telegram account and internet connection. simply click and see whats secret.
молитви від коронавірусу від патріарха кирила/ 31.08.2024
наснилося їсти солодке до чого снитися залишитися
без житла
наснилася ванна з кров’ю до чого снитися велика змія удав
до чого сниться дипломат із грошима/ 01.09.2024
роздавати цукерки дітям уві сні, до чого сняться цукерки жінці сонник якщо батьки померли уві
сні
і замість молитов до небес ворожіння пасьянси онлайн із
тлумаченням
Buy Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus True Timber DRT/ 07.09.2024
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: jamesdevereaux.com/the-great-acting-blog-the-narusian-setsuko-ha/ […]
natural light photography/ 12.09.2024
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it
is really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Bestel avirodin online en vermijd lange wachtrijen in de apotheek/ 12.09.2024
Medikamente in Europa kaufen Galena Gricignano d’Aversa Kauf von Medikamente Mylan in Deutschland
betapace ohne rezept deutschland versand/ 14.09.2024
passer une commande de médicaments Tecnimede Linares informarsi sul prezzo di farmaci con prescrizione
medica in Italia
allegra αγορά στην Ολλανδία χωρίς ιατρική συνταγή/ 17.09.2024
Hi Dear, are you actually visiting this web page regularly, if
so then you will absolutely obtain nice experience.
Medikamente ohne Rezept in München/ 22.09.2024
les médicaments génériques sont-ils sûrs à utiliser ?
Sanis Genk trouver des médicaments pas cher
жамбылдың сатиралық/ 23.09.2024
антиспермальные антитела у женщин лечение, mar-тест уфа 5
управление кнб рк чем занимается, 7
отдел кнб рк чем занимается санаторий жумбактас телефон,
санаторий окжетпес цены мойын
неге қараяды, қарайған жерді ағарту
әбіш кекілбаев прозалық шығармалары/ 25.09.2024
виза в казахстан для белорусов, виза в казахстан для иностранцев байқоңыр ғарыш айлағы пайдасы, <<байқоңыр ғарыш айлағының қазақстанға әсері? отбасының жіктелуі және қызметтері, өмірлік циклдары, отбасы құндылығы дегеніміз не темір жол көлігінің инфрақұрылымы, темір жол габариттері
қабанбай батыр ерасыл/ 26.09.2024
ақ сары жасыл көк түсті нотадамыз remix,
ақ сары жасыл қызыл скачать кишкентай келин
сонгы болим, кішкентай келін 1 серия қазақша халықтың табиғи өсімі, табиғи өсім коэффициенті айсезім есімінің мағынасы,
раяна есімінің мағынасы
отбасылық дәстүрлер мен құндылықтар/ 11.10.2024
филиал еңбек-жауғашты, ргп енбек реабилитация уран в казахстане цена, кому принадлежит уран в казахстане абу қай сендеде жүрек бар, менде де журек бар скачать слесарь кипиа вакансии,
работа слесарь кипиа вахта
женские мусульманские имена современные/ 11.10.2024
если приснился санкт петербург козерог планета управитель
сонник по ванге покойник
мужчина рак-петух в постели магазин светофор чита адреса, авито
чита
видеть во сне покупать новый дом/ 19.10.2024
приснилось что хочу завести собаку сонник рынок цветов что означает карта принцесса мечей, принцесса мечей таро
перевернутая
гороскоп весы за сентябрь к чему снится рыба соленая женщине
снится умирающая кошка/ 20.10.2024
какой у меня гороскоп на сегодня весы
как найти спрятанные деньги с помощью магии
гороскоп карьеры на неделю близнецы
к чему снится то что тебе дают носовой
платок девятка чаш в отношениях
High Valuable Courses/ 24.10.2024
network marketing course free
download internet marketing courses/ 27.10.2024
digital marketing course subjects list
Don't Buy Verified Stripe Accounts in 2024/ 28.10.2024
Instead of buying verified Stripe accounts from third-class sellers, you should set up your own Stripe account or high-risk merchant account service. This way, you stay safe and avoid all third-party scammers. When you create your own account, you have control and can follow the rules. Buying from others can lead to problems like account bans or scams. So, be careful and choose to set up your own account to keep your business safe!
Is Diviashop Trusted or a Scam?/ 28.10.2024
Diviashop is a highly recommended, trusted, and reputable site since 2022, delivering 100 quality service for setting up high-risk merchant accounts.
Get Free iMcourses For Robert Cialdini – Ethical Influence Practitioner Program/ 29.10.2024
Download Free Internet marketing Courses & Money Making Courses With Free & Premium Plan. Get it Today.
авито работа великие луки подработка/ 03.11.2024
курьеры подработка саратов подработка в ночное время в обнинске подработка кассир с ежедневной оплатой москва запись в трудовой о дистанционной работе
make money online for free/ 03.11.2024
Make money online for free
imarketing courses/ 04.11.2024
katie proctor
к чему сниться стреляющий самолет/ 15.11.2024
к чему снится что вырвали зубы без крови и боли
заговор две свечки скручиваем любовный гороскоп скорпион на месяц,
гороскоп скорпион для одиноких
женщин
гороскоп по году рождения кабан женщина магия и красота май
USA LLC/ 16.11.2024
Diviashop simplifies business setup for non-USA/UK residents by offering legal USA LLC or UK LTD formation, business bank accounts, and seamless payment gateway integration. A complete solution to start and grow your global business remotely!
Scam Alerts/ 18.11.2024
Beware of Scams When Trying to Buy Verified Stripe Accounts. Read this before purchaser any readymade stripe accounts.
Divia shop/ 19.11.2024
This blog post is really helpful for us. My simple advice for visitors- if anyone wants to set up their own merchant accounts like Stripe or others, they can simply contact Diviashop for assistance in setting up while following all legal processes.