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THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF

SHIAWASE NO KIIROI HANKACHI

By Yoji YAMADA

SHOCHIKU CO., LTD - as SALES All rights, World / DISTR Theatrical, TV, DVD-video, VOD, Airline, JAPAN

Drama - Completed 1977

4K digitally restored version was showcased at Shanghai IFF, Classics 2024.
A film adaptation of Pete Hamill's original work. Starring Ken TAKAKURA and Chieko BAISHO, the film dominated the Japanese film awards when it's first released, including the 1st Japan Academy Prize.

- Year of production
- 1977
- Genres
- Drama
- Countries
- JAPAN
- Languages
- JAPANESE
- Duration
- 108 mn
- Director(s)
- Yoji YAMADA
- Cast
- Ken TAKAKURA, Chieko BAISHO, Tetsuya TAKEDA, Kaori MOMOI
- Synopsis
- One day, the police were investigating an escaped robber near Karikachi Pass and they stop Kinya’s car. Kinya is let off after showing his driver’s license, but the police interrogate Yusaku, who they find suspicious. It turns out that he was released from Abashiri Prison two days ago.
  Yusaku recounts his past to Akemi and Kinya. During the six years that he spent in prison, he could not forget his wife, Mitsue (Chieko Baisho). Just before his sentence ended, he wrote her a letter. “I hope that you are remarried to a good man and living a happy life. By the time this letter reaches you, I will arrive in Yubari. If you are still living alone, please tie a yellow handkerchief on the garden pole. But if there is no handkerchief, I will leave Yubari.” The three of them drive through Akabira, Utashinai, and Sunagawa, heading straight to Yubari.