The Yellow Handkerchief

"Three complete strangers embark on a road-trip to Hokkaido."

1977 1h 49m JA

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 42

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A convict, newly released from prison for murder, joins two strangers on a road trip through Hokkaido to visit his ex-wife, whom he hasn't seen in four years, knowing that if she puts a yellow handkerchief on the window, it would mean that she wants him back at home.

“Three complete strangers embark on a road-trip to Hokkaido.”

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Cast

Ken Takakura
Yusaku Shima
Chieko Baisho
Mitsue Shima
Tetsuya Takeda
Kinya Hanada
Kaori Momoi
Akemi Ogawa
Kiyoshi Atsumi
Watanabe Kacho
Hisao Dazai
Ryokan Manager
Mari Okamoto
Ramen Shop Girl
Hachiro Tako
Yakuza

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Yoji Yamada
Writers: Yoji Yamada, Yoshitaka Asama, Pete Hamill
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

ERA

Did you know

49 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Yoji Yamada, shot by Tetsuo Takaha. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ken Takakura and Chieko Baisho and Tetsuya Takeda carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Three complete strangers embark on a road-trip to Hokkaido.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0076935 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 42 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Yoji Yamada directs. Tetsuo Takaha behind the camera. Masaru Satō scores. Iwao Ishii cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

149 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Yoji Yamada, shot by Tetsuo Takaha. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Masaru Satō. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Iwao Ishii shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Ken Takakura and Chieko Baisho and Tetsuya Takeda carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Three complete strangers embark on a road-trip to Hokkaido.".
7IMDB entry: tt0076935 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 42 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.