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IMDbPro

Northern Elegy

Original title: Banka
  • 19571957
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
106
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
310,033
107,973
Northern Elegy (1957)
Drama
A young woman falls for a middle aged business man, but things get complicated when she also starts having feelings for his wife.A young woman falls for a middle aged business man, but things get complicated when she also starts having feelings for his wife.A young woman falls for a middle aged business man, but things get complicated when she also starts having feelings for his wife.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
106
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
310,033
107,973
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Heinosuke Gosho
    • Writers
      • Yasuko Harada(story)
      • Toshio Yasumi
      • Toshio Yuki
    • Stars
      • Yoshiko Kuga
      • Masayuki Mori
      • Mieko Takamine
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Heinosuke Gosho
    • Writers
      • Yasuko Harada(story)
      • Toshio Yasumi
      • Toshio Yuki
    • Stars
      • Yoshiko Kuga
      • Masayuki Mori
      • Mieko Takamine
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos

    Yoshiko Kuga and Masayuki Mori in Northern Elegy (1957)
    Akira Ishihama and Yoshiko Kuga in Northern Elegy (1957)
    Yoshiko Kuga and Masayuki Mori in Northern Elegy (1957)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Yoshiko Kuga
    Yoshiko Kuga
    • Reiko Hyôdô
    Masayuki Mori
    Masayuki Mori
    • Setsuo Katsuragi
    Mieko Takamine
    Mieko Takamine
    • Akiko Katsuragi
    Akira Ishihama
    Akira Ishihama
    • Mikio Fusada
    Fumio Watanabe
    Fumio Watanabe
    • Tatsumi Furuse
    Tatsuo Saitô
    Tatsuo Saitô
    • Reiko's father
    Kumeko Urabe
    Kumeko Urabe
    • Reiko's aged maid
    Zekô Nakamura
    • Master at Daphne
    Sanae Takasugi
    Sanae Takasugi
    • Mrs. Tanioka
    Chikako Kaga
    • Tomoko, Setsuo's niece
    Etsuko Nakazato
    • Kumiko Katsuragi
    Atsuo Takasaki
    • Nobuhiko
    Takashi Tô
    Teruo Matsuyama
    Yasushi Inayoshi
    Masahiko Naruse
    Chie Iwazaki
    Shûko Itô
    • Director
      • Heinosuke Gosho
    • Writers
      • Yasuko Harada(story)
      • Toshio Yasumi
      • Toshio Yuki
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Soundtracks
      Banka
      Lyrics by Kô Fujiura

      Music by Yasushi Akutagawa

      Sung by Fubuki Koshiji

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Western imitation
    Yoshiko Kuga has an interesting role here -- an unmarried young woman, part tomboy, mostly rebel, and mentally... strange. I could not always understand the motives behind her actions. The plot is straight melodrama -- she takes up with a married man (the great Masayuki Mori) whose wife is also having an affair. And it is all presented in the most Western way. Orchestras swell, characters actually embrace and kiss (oh my), women are independent (although still destined for ruin), houses are Western-style, and characters even speak French and English phrases. Gosho ('Where Chimneys Are Seen') was a good director, but if I wanted a Hollywood melodrama, I would watch a Hollywood melodrama. I watch Japanese films for that undefinable Japaneseness. I don't watch them to see an imitation of what I'm trying to get away from. 6/10.
    helpful•3
    9
    • godgetsmepumped
    • Sep 4, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1, 1957 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Elegy of the North
    • Production company
      • Kabukiza
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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