Le jardin des femmes

There's unrest at a prestigious woman's college. Student Hideko Takamine is in trouble, not only for the usual misbehavior, but because she says the college is outdated and all it teaches is how to be a good country wife. Teacher Mieko Takamine is her principal opponent, but things soon boil over because of the inconsistent way the rules are administered.

It's a long movie, almost 140 minutes, and it looks like writer-director Keisuke Kinoshita had seen MADCHEN IN UNIFORM; finding the situation universal, he adapted it to Post-War Japan and its concerns, not only Communism and Peace, but growing women's rights. He also did some fine character writing, with the participants not only clearly delineated, but well acted... hardly surprising given the two leads.

The actresses average a bit old for college students, but they make up for it in being skilled, seasoned professionals.