The Milkwoman (2005)

The Milkwoman (2005)

2005-07-02 Japan 127 Min. PG-13
6.3 6 votes

Overview

Minako (TANAKA Yuko), begins her day running up and down the hills of her hometown delivering milk door to door. When that's done, she heads to her day job as a supermarket cashier. Minako is 50 and single. In one of the houses to which she delivers milk is a man with whom she has secretly been in love since high school. The man, Keita (KISHIBE Ittoku), lives with his wife Yoko, who is terminally ill. Caring for her at home, he works in the children's affairs section of the local municipal office. Though he insists that he wants nothing more than an "ordinary" existence, his life is in turmoil below the surface. The director uses a variety of narrative devises to portray the loneliness, isolation, and hope of these people who have seemingly allowed their goals and dreams to slip away, whilst keeping them agonizingly close to hand.

Cast

田中裕子 is Minako Oba
Minako Oba
岸部一徳 is Kaita Takanashi
Kaita Takanashi
仁科亜季子 is Yoko Takanashi
Yoko Takanashi
上田耕一 is Masao Minagawa
Masao Minagawa
香川照之 is Manager of Super Market
Manager of Super Market
左右田一平 is Milk Shop Owner
Milk Shop Owner
Hazuki Kôzu is Nurse Watanabe
Nurse Watanabe
田根楽子 is Kimiko Ito
Kimiko Ito
馬渕英俚可 is Mari Yoshida
Mari Yoshida
山田辰夫 is Yujiro Kawai
Yujiro Kawai
柳憂怜 is Manager of Child Guidance Center
Manager of Child Guidance Center
鈴木砂羽 is Chiyo Oba
Chiyo Oba