When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960): cast, story & where to watch
1960 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1960, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is a drama film directed by Mikio Naruse, running about 111 minutes.
What it’s about. Keiko, whom everyone calls Mama, narrates her story: she's a hostess on the Ginza, 30, a widow. She describes life's vicious cycle: acting cheerful around drunks, dressing and living well to convey confidence, needing money for these expenses and for her demanding mother and brother, and knowing she's growing older.
Who’s in it. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs stars Hideko Takamine as Keiko Yashiro, Masayuki Mori as Nobuhiko Fujisaki, Reiko Dan as Junko Inchihashi and Tatsuya Nakadai as Kenichi Komatsu, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch When a Woman Ascends the Stairs page.
If you liked it. Fans of When a Woman Ascends the Stairs tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960)?
- In US, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is When a Woman Ascends the Stairs worth watching?
- When a Woman Ascends the Stairs holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in When a Woman Ascends the Stairs?
- When a Woman Ascends the Stairs stars Hideko Takamine, Masayuki Mori, Reiko Dan, Tatsuya Nakadai and Daisuke Katō.
- When was When a Woman Ascends the Stairs released?
- When a Woman Ascends the Stairs was released in 1960, with a runtime of about 111 minutes.