阿弥陀堂だより (2002): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 2002, 阿弥陀堂だより is a drama film directed by Takashi Koizumi, running about 128 minutes.

What it’s about. As the film begins, Takao (Akira Terao) and Michiko (Kanako Higuchi) have already pulled up their Tokyo roots and moved to a village that is Takao's ancestral home. They visit a thatched cottage that serves as a memorial shrine (amidado) for the village dead and chat with the attendant, the spry 96-year-old Oume (Tanie Kitabayashi). Together they admire the view -- from an inspiring distance. Oume, it turns out, is a kind of sage, whose thoughts and observations are a popular feature in a column in a local newsletter. Her amanuensis is a mute, sweetly smiling young woman named Sayuri (Manami Konishi), who is as devoted to Oume as Oume is to the souls of her beloved dead.

Who’s in it. 阿弥陀堂だより stars Akira Terao as Takao Ueda, Kanako Higuchi as Michiko Ueda, Hisashi Igawa as Sayuri's father and Tanie Kitabayashi as Oume, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.4/10, 阿弥陀堂だより sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch 阿弥陀堂だより page.

If you liked it. Fans of 阿弥陀堂だより tend to enjoy Die Verurteilten, Der Pate, Schindlers Liste and Der Pate - Teil II.