When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960)

"The tree sprouts no matter how strong the wind blows."

★ 8.0/10 (125 votes)

IMDb

1h 51m

Drama

Stream on

Criterion Channel

Keiko, whom everyone calls Mama, narrates her story: she's a hostess on the Ginza, 30, a widow. She describes life's vicious cycle: acting cheerful around drunks, dressing and living well to convey confidence, needing money for these expenses and for her demanding mother and brother, and knowing she's growing older.