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When a Woman Ascends the Stairs Reviews

1960
1 hr 50 mins
Drama
NR

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Filmmaker Mikio Naruse takes a characteristic dour look at life in When A Woman Ascends the Stairs. The central character is a barmaid, who works day and night to avoid being thrown out into the street. She knows that, if she loses her job, the only profession open to her is the World's Oldest. But when the worst happens, the barmaid learns to live with herself while compromising her values. The film's original title was Onna Ga Kaidan O Agaru Toki.

The tragic story of a woman who works hard as a barmaid to avoid the alternative fate of becoming a prostitute. After a failed attempt at business, she accepts the fact that prostitution is the only means available for her to earn a living. As in all of Naruse's late period films, a depressing and fatalistic tone is maintained.