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Takamine Hideko and Mori Masayuki talking at a bar, looking seriousalr

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
(Onna ga kaidan wo agaru toki)

Screening on Film
Directed by Naruse Mikio.
With Takamine Hideko, Nakadai Tatsuya, Mori Masayuki.
Japan, 1960, 35mm, black & white, 111 min.
Japanese with English subtitles.
Print source: The Japan Foundation

From one bar to another, hostess Keiko (Takamine Hideko) seeks out patronage to support her family and fund her dream of having her own bar. Her mastery of flattery and affected coldness fall short as protection against men who corner her with bills, debts and other deceptive gestures disguised as care. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs remains one of Naruse's most renowned films, celebrated for Takamine's superbly controlled performance and for its black-and-white cinematography—which, with Mayuzumi Toshiro's jazz score and Takamine's voiceover narration, invokes a noir-adjacent sensibility. – Kelley Dong

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Image: ©Toho Co., Ltd.

Part of film series

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse Mikio

Screenings from this program

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Floating Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1955
Screening on Film
close-up of man and woman next to one another, but looking in slightly different directions
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Sudden Rain
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1956
Screening on Film
Hara Setsuko and Kagawa Kyoko laughing outside on the porch with Sano Shuji

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Floating Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1955
Screening on Film
close-up of man and woman next to one another, but looking in slightly different directions
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Yearning
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1964
Screening on Film
a close-up of Takamine Hideko staring out toward the camera with Kayama Yuzo just behind looking at her

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Sound of the Mountain
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1954
Screening on Film
Hara Setsuko looking at Yamamura So who gazes off into the distance

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Untamed
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1957
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko and Mori Masayuki crouch unhappily in a rice field
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
A Wife’s Heart
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1956
Screening on Film
a close-up of Mifune Toshiro looking inquisitively at Takamine Hideko who seems worried

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Untamed
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1957
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko and Mori Masayuki crouch unhappily in a rice field
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Sudden Rain
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1956
Screening on Film
Hara Setsuko and Kagawa Kyoko laughing outside on the porch with Sano Shuji

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Approach of Autumn
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1960
Screening on Film
a young Japanese boy sits at a table next to a younger Japanese girl who talks excitedly
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Sound of the Mountain
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1954
Screening on Film
Hara Setsuko looking at Yamamura So who gazes off into the distance

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Husband and Wife
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1953
Screening on Film
Uehara Ken and Sugi Yoko seated at the dinner table, both looking bored
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Mother
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1952
Screening on Film
a group of people, including Tanaka Kinuyo, look despondently at a misshapen hat

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
A Wife’s Heart
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1956
Screening on Film
a close-up of Mifune Toshiro looking inquisitively at Takamine Hideko who seems worried
Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Yearning
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1964
Screening on Film
a close-up of Takamine Hideko staring out toward the camera with Kayama Yuzo just behind looking at her

Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Anzukko
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1958
Screening on Film
a side view of Kagawa Kyoko and Yamamura So outside next to one another, looking off into the distance

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1960
Screening on Film
three young women look expectantly at Hara Setsuko who gazes down
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Approach of Autumn
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1960
Screening on Film
a young Japanese boy sits at a table next to a younger Japanese girl who talks excitedly

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Morning’s Tree-Lined Street
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1936
Screening on Film
Chiba Sachiko and Okawa Heihachiro drinking and looking happy in a restaurant
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
A Woman’s Sorrows
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1937
Screening on Film
two young Japanese women dance closely together while two young Japanese men watch

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Mother
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1952
Screening on Film
a group of people, including Tanaka Kinuyo, look despondently at a misshapen hat

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Hideko, the Bus Conductor
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1941
Screening on Film
a youthful Takamine Hideko in a patterned kimono looks out of a store front expectantly
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Whole Family Works
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1939
Screening on Film
a Japanese woman and her three children sit at their table eating while the father lies on the floor looking despondent

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1935
Screening on Film
a young Japanese woman smiles at the camera, with her head on the shoulder of a young Japanese man in a suit
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1938
Screening on Film
Hasegawa Kazuo, and Yamada Isuzu sit next to one another, the latter holding a shamisen

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Sincerity
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1939
Screening on Film
a Japanese woman in a kimono looks seriously at a Japanese man in military dress

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Summer Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1958
Screening on Film
Tsukasa Yoko and Kobayashi Keiju laughing and talking as she sews

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1960
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko and Mori Masayuki talking at a bar, looking serious

Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Summer Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1958
Screening on Film
Tsukasa Yoko and Kobayashi Keiju laughing and talking as she sews

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Stranger within a Woman
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1966
Screening on Film
Aratama Michiyo looking desperate as she talks to a smoking Kobayashi Keiju

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1960
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko and Mori Masayuki talking at a bar, looking serious

Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Traveling Actors
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1940
Screening on Film

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Scattered Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1967
Screening on Film

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Wife! Be Like a Rose!
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1935
Screening on Film
an older Japanese man and a woman sit around a table and fish sculpture staring eagerly at a younger woman who looks away
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Flowing
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1956
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko, another woman and a little girl stand in a hallway looking somberly at an older woman

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Scattered Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1967
Screening on Film

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Flowing
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1956
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko, another woman and a little girl stand in a hallway looking somberly at an older woman

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Floating Clouds
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1955
Screening on Film
close-up of man and woman next to one another, but looking in slightly different directions
Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Lightning
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1952
Screening on Film
Miura Mitsuko in traditional Japanese dress, carrying a bowl, walks alongside Takamine Hideko in a western skirt and blouse

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
A Wanderer’s Notebook
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1962
Screening on Film
a young Takamine Hideko and Takarada Akira eat cakes and look inquisitively at one another

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Late Chrysanthemums
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1954
Screening on Film
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Wife
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1953
Screening on Film
a despondent Takamine Mieko stands next to a distracted Uehara Ken, with her hand on her heart

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Lightning
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1952
Screening on Film
Miura Mitsuko in traditional Japanese dress, carrying a bowl, walks alongside Takamine Hideko in a western skirt and blouse
Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Repast
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1951
Screening on Film
a standing Hara Setsuko laughs with a seated woman while another woman carries bottles of wine

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Late Chrysanthemums
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1954
Screening on Film
Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Wife
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1953
Screening on Film
a despondent Takamine Mieko stands next to a distracted Uehara Ken, with her hand on her heart

Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Repast
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1951
Screening on Film
a standing Hara Setsuko laughs with a seated woman while another woman carries bottles of wine

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Every-Night Dreams
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1933
Live Musical AccompanimentScreening on Film15$$15 Special EventNew 35mm print
a small boy in a plaid cap, sits on a large arched structure outside

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Apart From You
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1933
Live musical accompaniment by Robert HumphrevilleScreening on Film15$$15 Special Event
one young Japanese women holds out her cigarette to the other who has matches

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
No Blood Relation
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1932
Live Musical Accompaniment by Robert HumphrevilleScreening on Film15$$15 Special Event
a close-up of a little girl's worried face
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Street Without End
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1933
Live Musical AccompanimentScreening on Film15$$15 Special Event
standing in front of pictures on the wall, a defiant looking Kurishima Sumiko gazes to the side with pursed lips

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Older Brother, Younger Sister
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1953
Screening on Film
a young woman with her head down sits a distance away from the young man speaking to her outside
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Hit and Run
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1966
Screening on Film
Tsukasa Yoko in the foreground, looking upset, while Ozawa Eitaro approaches her

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Ginza Cosmetics
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1951
Screening on Film
Tanaka Kinuyo seated before her mirror and makeup, looks away despondently, while a younger woman sits next to her looking eager
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Song Lantern
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1943
Screening on Film
in this slightly faded photo, a Japanese couple talk in the narrow, wintery city street

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Learn from Experience, Part I
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1935
Screening on Film
the back of a woman in a kimono faces us while the woman in front of her, in western dress, takes her picture
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Learn from Experience, Part II
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1937
Screening on Film
two Japanese women talk excitedly to a third, all in western dress

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Road I Travel with You / Avalanche
Screening on Film
a young Japanese man looks at a young Japanese woman who turns her head away

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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
The Girl in the Rumor
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1935
Screening on Film
two young women stand next to a third who gazes expectantly off
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Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
A Woman's Place
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1962
Screening on Film
Takamine Hideko and an older woman look sad with their heads down while a woman in the distance looks on

Read more
Floating Clouds… The Cinema of Naruse ...
Every-Night Dreams
Directed by Naruse Mikio, 1933
Live Musical AccompanimentScreening on Film15$$15 Special EventNew 35mm print
a small boy in a plaid cap, sits on a large arched structure outside

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