Ongoing Mikio Naruse: An American Cinematheque Retrospective Series | WIFE! BE LIKE A ROSE! on Nitrate, EVERY-NIGHT DREAMS, APART FROM YOU, BROTHER AND SISTER, AVALANCHE, THREE SISTERS WITH MAIDEN HEARTS, THE THIN LINE, A WANDERER’S NOTEBOOK, FLOATING CLOUDS, MOMENT OF TERROR, REPAST, LIGHTNING, SUDDEN RAIN, SOUND OF THE MOUNTAIN, WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS, LATE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, FLOWING, MOTHER, SCATTERED CLOUDS, YEARNING
ABOUT THE SERIES: The American Cinematheque is thrilled to present a 28-film retrospective of legendary Japanese auteur Mikio Naruse’s most vital works presented on 35mm. Similar to some of his contemporaries such as Yasujiro Ozu, Naruse was a pivotal figure in Japan’s golden age of cinema, primarily in the nation’s illustrious postwar period. His home dramas bridged the gap between tradition and modernity, often considering the broader trends shaping Japanese society amid such periods of major change. Known for centering his stories around female characters impeded by unfortunate circumstances compounded by the grasp of familial tradition, such as the widows of YEARNING or WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS, Naruse’s work often focuses on the changing roles of women in the postwar period, ultimately tracing the movement away from traditional expectations towards modern independence. In some instances, as observable in the acclaimed FLOATING CLOUDS, Naruse even opts to grapple with thematic taboos such as love affairs, remarriage and abortion. The master filmmaker was known for being evasive and reticent, resulting in even his closest and most repeated collaborators claiming never to have really known him. The great Akira Kurosawa had described Naruse as a very self-assured director, an artist who preferred to do everything himself, as much as he was capable. Mikio Naruse preferred to express himself through his work, and it is through his films we not only celebrate but begin to understand the depths of this artist. The American Cinematheque is proud to partner with The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles and The Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities in presenting this historic series highlighting the work of one of Japan’s most respected filmmakers, with rare prints coming from Japan for exhibition, courtesy of the The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles and The National Film Archive of Japan. Highlights from the series include a rare screening of George Eastman Museum’s print of WIFE! BE LIKE A ROSE! on Nitrate as part of our 2026 Nitrate Film Festival and a very special kick-off event at the Egyptian theatre on February 27, 2026, featuring a screening of EVERY-NIGHT DREAMS and APART FROM YOU accompanied by a live Benshi performance. Schedule also includes: BROTHER AND SISTER, AVALANCHE, THREE SISTERS WITH MAIDEN HEARTS, THE THIN LINE, A WANDERER’S NOTEBOOK, MOMENT OF TERROR, REPAST, LIGHTNING, SUDDEN RAIN, SOUND OF THE MOUNTAIN, LATE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, FLOWING, MOTHER, and SCATTERED CLOUDS Additional schedule to be announced during the Summer for screenings of: STREET WITHOUT END, NO BLOOD RELATION, WIFE, SUMMER CLOUDS, A WIFE’S HEART, THE APPROACH OF AUTUMN, TRAVELLING ACTORS, and DAUGHTERS, WIVES AND A MOTHER