「東京物語」 ”TOKYO MONOGATARI” (TOKYO STORY)

「東京物語」

 

 

 　銀幕の伝説女優、原節子が９５歳で亡くなった。先日、追悼記念ＴＶ番組「東京物語」（小津安二郎監督、１９５３年）を見た。映画は平山周吉（笠智衆）が妻のとみ（東山千栄子）を６８歳で亡くし、その葬儀に子供たち（うち一人が原節子扮する紀子）が集まる話である。
以前見たのは３０年ほど前で、私は４２歳ぐらいで父が存命中であった。その時は母親を亡くした子供の立場から見ていたが、今回は妻を亡くした夫の目線で映画を見た。正直言って、７２歳になった今、周吉の一語一語、顔つき、身振りが他人ごとではないように思った。私の妻がとみと同じぐらいの年齢であるため、妻を亡くしたら周吉のようになるのかと身につまされた。
同じ映画でも見方でこうも違うのかと思った。

TOKYO MONOGATARI (TOKYO STORY)

　　Legendary actress Setsuko Hara, who shined in films of the 1930s to 1960s, died at the age of 95. The other day, I watched “Tokyo Monogatari” (Tokyo Story) commemorating her on television. The film centers around the gathering of four children when their father, Shukichi Hirayama (starring Chishu Kasa) loses his wife Tomi (starring Chieko Higashiyama). One of the children is Noriko starring Setsuko Hara.
　　I saw the film once when I was about 42 years old. At that time my father was still alive and I saw the film from the viewpoint of a man who lost his mother. However, this time, I saw the same film through the point of view of Shukichi, an old man who lost his 68-year-old wife, Tomi. Frankly speaking, I identified myself with him, partly because I am 72 years old, probably as old as Shukichi, and partly because my wife is the same age with Tomi. I listened to every word Shukichi said, I watched his face, his movement after he lost his wife. He concealed loneliness in his flat tone of his voice. I thought I would feel like Shukichi when I lost my wife.
　　The same film gives completely different impression according to how you see it.