Villon's Wife (Viyon No Tsuma)

Year: 2009
Country: JAPAN
Run Time: 114 minutes

It is December 1946 and Otami slips home to his wife Sachi. He is a scoundrel, a thief, a deadbeat dad, drinking and thieving his way through the city of Nakano. He is also a writer of some acclaim and Sachi does everything she can to support him. Soon after he returns, a couple who are pub owners in Nakano come knocking on the door, demanding of Otami the money he stole from them. When Otami disappears again, Sachi decides to take matters in hand. Boarding the train with her son on her back, she travels to the pub to make good on the missing money. She soon becomes a hit with the customers, dispensing drinks and merriment in equal parts. When Otami appears at the bar one night with another woman, she still tries to defend him and his actions. However, her empowerment is growing as she realizes how much she enjoys the job and the money she is making. When Sachi catches the eye of another man, Otami becomes jealous but continues to alternate between repentant and brashly unfeeling. Soon, Sachi must come to his defense yet again, but this time on a much more serious issue and the power begins to shift in their relationship. Will Sachi say "goodbye" for good? Based on several short stories by Osamu Dazai, VILLON'S WIFE serves as a reflection of how Japan began to change after World War II. (In Japanese with subtitles) – C.C.P.

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