Following World War II, a retired professor approaching his autumn years finds his quality of life drastically reduced in war-torn Tokyo. Denying despair, he pursues writing and celebrates h... Read allFollowing World War II, a retired professor approaching his autumn years finds his quality of life drastically reduced in war-torn Tokyo. Denying despair, he pursues writing and celebrates his birthday with his adoring students.Following World War II, a retired professor approaching his autumn years finds his quality of life drastically reduced in war-torn Tokyo. Denying despair, he pursues writing and celebrates his birthday with his adoring students.
- Awards
- 6 wins & 4 nominations
- Amaki
- (as Jôji Tokoro)
- Directors
- Akira Kurosawa
- Ishirô Honda(uncredited)
- Writers
- Ishirô Honda(uncredited)
- Akira Kurosawa
- Hyakken Uchida
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFinal film of both Akira Kurosawa and Ishirô Honda.
- GoofsThe story depicts Professor Hyakken's 60th birthday toward the end of World War II (1943-1945). But he was born in 1889; thus, he turned 60 years old in 1949.
- Quotes
Professor Hyakken Uchida: Gentlemen, today's my last day for me to be called "professor." As of today, I am resigning my professorship. Somehow, my writings have found a market. I can make a living off them. That's not to say - that I dislike teaching. But as they say, "He who chases two hares catches neither." So, I am quitting teaching.
Takayama: Professor. Even if you quit, you'll still be our professor. My dad graduated from this school, and so did his friends. To this day they still call you Professor. They also say you're pure gold.
Professor Hyakken Uchida: Pure gold?
Takayama: A lump of gold with no impurities. I guess they mean you're a true professor. You're our German professor, but I feel you've taught us a lot of other very valuable lessons.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999)
- SoundtracksL'ESTRO ARMONICO Op. II, Concert No 1 in D Major, RV 230
Music by Antonio Vivaldi
Performed by Solisti Veneti (as I Solisti Veneti)
Conducted by Claudio Scimone
Courtesy of ERARO DISQUES S.A.
The movie starts with the Professor's retirement from teaching. We learn he taught German, and he must have been a good teacher as well as quite a character, because large numbers of his students stay in touch with him through the decades. Kurosawa shows us that the students love and respect him dearly, as well as finding him eccentric. They refer to him as "solid gold". However, I kept asking "Why? Why would these people with busy lives, following their own paths, continue to hold birthday parties for their eccentric old professor?" And as the movie continued, I found myself answering my own question. Why not? It's a win-win situation for all involved. The students value the professor's company and despite joking protests to the contrary, the professor enjoys the visits and increasingly comes to depend on them. In post-WWII Japan, there must have been little to celebrate, so having an annual excuse to get together with people you enjoy would be reason enough. Kurosawa also expounds on one of his main themes from "Red Beard"; kindness begets kindness and that is what we continually shown in "Madadayo". The students help build the professor a new house after his home is destroyed in the fire-bombing of Tokyo. The professor loses his cat and the students and the community band together to try to find it, celebrating and congratulating one another when they think they find it, and commiserating and empathizing when they don't. The annual birthday parties continue and evolve from just the male students drinking with their professor to banquets involving their wives and children. I began to fall under the spell of how wonderful it would be to be part of this community, to know these people, to know there were others looking out for me, willing to help if I needed it, relishing my company, and knowing that once a year I could get together with all my friends from school (the ones we all lose touch with because our busy lives follow diverging paths), celebrate the life of a great man (a favourite teacher's lessons stay with you forever) and be part of something bigger and gentler and kinder.
I can understand why someone expecting the excitement of "Seven Samurai", the suspense of "High and Low", or the innovation of "Rashomon" would be disappointed in "Madadayo", but if you enjoyed the lessons of "Red Beard", the gentle pull of "Madadayo" will delight and soothe you. You'll be left with a serene feeling of well-being, wishing you could be one of the Professor's students.
- Irradiata
- Oct 5, 2006
- How long is Madadayo?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $11,900,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $596
- Runtime2 hours 14 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1