Loading movie…

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs · LeviOsa

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs key art

1960·M12

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

The tree sprouts no matter how strong the wind blows.

Drama1h 51m

🍅100%

🍅

100%

Tomatometer

🍿

93%

Popcornmeter

8.0

TMDB

Storyline

Keiko, whom everyone calls Mama, narrates her story: she's a hostess on the Ginza, 30, a widow. She describes life's vicious cycle: acting cheerful around drunks, dressing and living well to convey confidence, needing money for these expenses and for her demanding mother and brother, and knowing she's growing older.

Trailers

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs trailer thumbnail

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs Trailer

Details

DirectorMikio Naruse

ReleasedJan 15, 1960

StatusReleased

Original languageJapanese

Budget

Not disclosed

Revenue

Not disclosed

Parental guideM12PT

Studio

TOHO

Cast

Hideko Takamine

Hideko Takamine

Keiko Yashiro

Masayuki Mori

Masayuki Mori

Nobuhiko Fujisaki

Reiko Dan

Reiko Dan

Junko Inchihashi

Tatsuya Nakadai

Tatsuya Nakadai

Kenichi Komatsu

Daisuke Katō

Daisuke Katō

Matsukichi Sekine

Ganjirō Nakamura II

Ganjirō Nakamura II

Goda

Eitarō Ozawa

Eitarō Ozawa

Minobe

Keiko Awaji

Keiko Awaji

Yuri

Chieko Nakakita

Chieko Nakakita

Tomoko

Jun Tatara

Jun Tatara

Goldfish

Yū Fujiki

Yū Fujiki

Matsui

Masao Oda

Masao Oda

Yoshizo Yashiro

Reviews

6 reviews · 5 critics

5 fresh · 0 rotten

A

Anthony Quinn

RTIndependent (UK)Jun 29, 2007

It's also elegantly shot and scored; all that's missing is a touch of humour.

J

James Breen

RTDaily Telegraph (UK)Jun 29, 2007

Sprint, don't walk, up those BFI steps to see it.

P

Peter Bradshaw

RTGuardianJun 29, 2007

The new retrospective of Mikio Naruse at London's BFI Southbank will do much to restore the reputation of a neglected Japanese director, and this 1960 film is a heartbreaking study, to be compared with Mizoguchi's Life of Oharu.

P

Panos Kotzathanasis

RTAsian Movie PulseJan 3, 2023

The sincerity with which Naruse deals with his subject, the way he has shot, and his dedication to realism deem “When a Woman Ascends the Stairs” a true masterpiece.

You Might Also Like

A Stripper's Dance

Fargo

Head-On

Darling

Stardom Nighter 2025 in Korakuen Sep.

M*A*S*H

The Last Emperor

Grace

Monumental

Lolita

Faces

Gone with the Wind

Recommended for you

Street of Shame

Sakuran

The End of Summer

Osaka Elegy

An Autumn Afternoon

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice

High and Low

Gate of Flesh

Repast

A Love Song for Bobby Long

The Insect Woman

More trailers on YouTube

Information

Title

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Released

Jan 15, 1960

Rated

M12

Region of Origin

Japan

Original Audio

Japanese

Runtime

1h 51m

Status

Released

Studio

TOHO

The Dresser