- Born
- Died
- Considered a major figure of Japan's 'golden age of cinema', Mikio Naruse was a filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer who directed 89 films in the period 1930 to 1967. Although Naruse's work is lesser known in the twenty-first century than those of his contemporaries Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Yasujirō Ozu, his films remain unique in the way they give a central place to female characters. While neither Naruse or his audiences would have identified themselves as 'feminist', these films tend to challenge the rigid gender norms of Japanese society. Among Mikio Naruse's most noted films, of which many can be described as bleak social drama (or shomin-geki = ordinary people drama), are Sound of the Mountain (1954), Late Chrysanthemums (1954), Floating Clouds (1955).
- IMDb mini biography by: Nigi
- SpouseSachiko Chiba(1937 - 1940) (divorced, 1 child)
- Came from a poor background and worked his way up from prop man at the Shochiko company in 1920, to full director ten years later. Had his best period in the 1950', becoming known for his depiction of contemporary social problems, particularly the role of women in Japanese society.
- Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 819-826. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.
- [on film studios]: We can no longer trust the studio.
- [on studios for which he worked]: At shochiku I was allowed to direct; at PCL I was asked to direct. A significant difference."
- From the youngest age, I have thought that the world we live in betrays us; this thought still remains with me.
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