The Heart

1973 1h 30m JA

🙌

8.2

BANGER

★8.2TMDB · 5

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The relationship between a rich young student and his lower class friend changes when they start to live both at a guest house. Both will be attracted towards Iko, the beautiful daughter of their landlady.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Nobuko Otowa
Mrs. M
Anri
Iko
Noboru Matsuhashi
K
Kazunaga Tsuji
S
Taiji Tonoyama
S's Father
Yasuo Arakawa
Boy in the Field
Sotomi Kotake
Girl in the Field

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kaneto Shindō
Writers: Kaneto Shindō
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

53 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kaneto Shindō, shot by Kiyomi Kuroda. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hikaru Hayashi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mitsuo Kondō shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nobuko Otowa and Anri and Noboru Matsuhashi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0203630 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kaneto Shindō directs. Kiyomi Kuroda behind the camera. Hikaru Hayashi scores. Mitsuo Kondō cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
253 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Kaneto Shindō, shot by Kiyomi Kuroda. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Hikaru Hayashi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Mitsuo Kondō shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Nobuko Otowa and Anri and Noboru Matsuhashi carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0203630 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.