True Mothers

2020 2h 20m JA

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 91

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After suffering through a long and unsuccessful series of fertility treatments, Satoko and her husband Kiyokazu make the decision to adopt a child. Six years after adopting a boy they named Asato, Satoko has quit her job to concentrate fully on her husband and son. The family lives a peaceful existence until the arrival of a stranger.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Hiromi Nagasaku
Satoko Kurihara
Arata Iura
Kiyokazu Kurihara
Aju Makita
Hikari Katakura
Miyoko Asada
Shizue Asami
Hiroko Nakajima
Takako Katakura
Tetsu Hirahara
Masaru Katakura
Ren Komai
Misaki Katakura
Reo Satou
Asato Kurihara

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Naomi Kawase
Writers: Mizuki Tsujimura, Naomi Kawase, Izumi Takahashi
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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Naomi Kawase, shot by Yuta Tsukinaga. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Hiromi Nagasaku and Arata Iura and Aju Makita carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt10418630 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 91 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Naomi Kawase directs. Yuta Tsukinaga behind the camera. Akira Kosemura scores. Tina Baz cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2Directed by Naomi Kawase, shot by Yuta Tsukinaga. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Akira Kosemura. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Tina Baz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Hiromi Nagasaku and Arata Iura and Aju Makita carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt10418630 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 91 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Yuta Tsukinaga
Original score: Akira Kosemura
Editing: Tina Baz
Production design: Setsuko Shiokawa
Makeup / hair: Naoko Koizumi
Runtime: 140 min · 2h 20m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): 12
IMDB: True Mothers (2020)

Also by

Naomi Kawase

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

badelf2021-12-25
★ 5/10
The basic idea of the movie is pretty good but the story wanders all over the place. And the director's vision also wanders all over the place. Between those two faults, the movie is a mess. Still, I didn't turn it off in the first act.
Alunauwie2025-09-24
★ 10/10
True Mothers, adapted from Mizuki Tsujimura’s novel Asa ga Kuru, offers a deeply emotional exploration of motherhood through the intersecting lives of Satoko and Hikari, two women connected by a child and bound by sacrifice. Instead of focusing solely on custody conflict, the film thoughtfully portrays different forms of maternal love—both from the woman who gives birth and the one who raises the child. With strong performances, elegant visuals, and a non-linear yet clear narrative, the film leaves a lasting impression about the true meaning of being a mother. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)