The Japanese Wife

The film is excellent. I don't clasify it as a romantic film. I think it's a film about human relationships and values. People from western (the so-called 'developted') countries, cannot even understand the behavior in such societies. So you may read some comments that the film is not ...realistic (!), or so. Hollywood film watchers have totally lost the ability to understand a piece of art. The first think that comes to mind is that money in such societies is not the goal but just a mean. Kindness, generosity. support etc prevail. Love is pure and without expecting something in return. This is not the exception but the rule. This is not something artificial, as people in west may think. It's a result of the social construction, (the lack of capitalism if you prefer a political or economical term). If seen under this perspective everything is easily understood: Why the aunt is so supportive, the devotion that Snehamoy has to his 'wife', the attitude of the widow, both against Snehamoy and his 'wife', at the end of the film. The directing is pretty good, and so I think for the acting. I really enjoyed and I heartily recommend it.

In a poor island in the countryside of India, the school teacher Snehamoy Chatterjee (Rahul Bose) becomes the pen friend of the Japanese Miyage (Chigusa Takaku). When his aunt Mashi (Moushumi Chatterjee) wants to marry him with the young Sandhya (Raima Sen), he engages in a marriage commitment with Miyage that becomes his Japanese wife. However, neither he can afford to travel to Japan nor Miyage can leave her old mother alone to travel to India. Meanwhile Sandhya marries and has a son.

After fifteen years, she gets widowed and moves to Mashi's house. But Snehamoy is still married with Miyage without seeing each other. When his Japanese wife has cancer, Snehamoy consults Indians doctors trying to find a cure for Miyage. Will they finally be together after all those years?

"The Japanese Wife" is a delicate romance about platonic love. The original story is very beautiful, despite the sad and unpredictable conclusion, and for Westerns like me it is a chance to see the costumes and behavior of the Indians. The music score is also very beautiful and suits perfectly to the film.

I just regret that the responsible for the subtitles have not noticed that yellow subtitles in white background are absolutely illegible. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

You won't take your eyes off the screen from the opening scene to the closing credits of "The Japanese Wife." Although this is a simple love story, it's visual style and look reminded me of another great Indian film, "Water" which also had a female director, Deepa Mehta. Aparna Sen, the director of "The Japanese Wife" uses the visual beauty of India, especially the rivers, as effectively as the cinematography of "Water."

The acting is superb, as Rahul Bose and Chigusa Takaku as the star-crossed spouses are excellent. The supporting cast, mainly the aunt (Moushoumi Chatterjee) and a little boy(Rudranil Ghosh) are both very good.

The story is a very basic one showing 2 people of vastly different cultures falling in love via letter writing. The universal message of loneliness and yearning are depicted in a very interesting way.

Even as a cynical American, I cannot recommend this film highly enough.

"One day I will come to you floating down this river (river Matla) just like a sailing boat" a platonic love that needs no technical gizmos and beyond the constrains of cultural, language, distance, social dogmas .... 'A rare gem' as many film makers call this movie, a poignant story, a smooth soft flow ..

I am big fan of Aparna sen. i don't understand Bengali but that doesn't stop me watching this movie. its journey to meaningful cinema where you can experience the character from within. its about a small village teacher become postal friend to a Japanese girl and their relationship bonds over through letters. withe the passage of time they marry each other from within and stay committed to each other.

this is going to stay in your mind for long time. one of the best movies i have seen. Rahal Bose and Mausami is class. Raima Sen is first class. cinematography is extremely wonderful. hats of to the director for choosing wonderful location to shoot. this is for sure a great movie in every aspect. Indian cinema at best.