Visas for Life (2005): cast, story & where to watch
2005 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 2005, Visas for Life is a history and drama film directed by Takayoshi Watanabe, running about 129 minutes.
What it’s about. World Wat II broke out shortly after diplomat Chiune Sugihara was assigned to Lithuania. Nazi Germany occupied the western half of Poland and began persecuting the Jews. Lithuania was then annexed by the Soviet Union, and the Japanese consulate was ordered to close. Meanwhile, Jewish refugees who had fled Poland flocked to the Japanese consulate, requesting the issuance of Japanese transit visas. Chiune repeatedly sent telegrams to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting permission to issue visas to the Jewish refugees, but received a final notice that the visas could not be issued. However, with only a month left until the departure deadline, Chiune decided to defy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' orders and issued visas to the Jewish refugees...
Who’s in it. Visas for Life stars Takashi Sorimachi as Chiune Sugihara, Naoko Iijima as Yukiko Sugihara, Kazue Fukiishi as Setsuko Kikuchi and Masanobu Katsumura as Mitsuya Takigawa, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Visas for Life has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Visas for Life page.
If you liked it. Fans of Visas for Life tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge and Green Book.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Visas for Life (2005)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Visas for Life change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Visas for Life worth watching?
- Visas for Life holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy history and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Visas for Life?
- Visas for Life stars Takashi Sorimachi, Naoko Iijima, Kazue Fukiishi, Masanobu Katsumura and Katsuhisa Namase.
- When was Visas for Life released?
- Visas for Life was released in 2005, with a runtime of about 129 minutes.