Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us

This month, Japan Society presents the first part of a rare retrospective on Japanese director Mikio Naruse, Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us, commemorating the 120th anniversary of the master Japanese filmmaker’s birth. Often referred to as the “fourth great master” of Japanese cinema, Naruse spent over forty years depicting the lives of women and Japan’s working class with a restrained, deeply melancholic style. A key figure at Toho Studios – where his reserved demeanor earned him the nickname “Yaruse Nakio” (Mr. Disconsolate) – he became a defining voice of shoshimin eiga, or dramas about ordinary people, and is now widely recognized as a master of portraying women’s inner lives. Running from May 16 to June 8, the series features 20 films spanning his career, all presented on 35mm or 16mm. Screenings will take place screenings at Japan Society. Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us – Part II opens at Metrograph from June 5.

Find more details and full schedule here.