I Am Waiting (1957)

In the gloom of a drenched night, two wandering souls cross paths outside a port-side restaurant in Japan: Jôji, a former boxer, exiled from the ring and Saeko, a once-radiant opera singer reduced to a mere echo of her former self. Each carries the weight of a past that has crippled their dreams and left them teetering on the edge of despair. Jôji, haunted by the ghost of a man he killed in a bar brawl, yearns for redemption and escape. He dreams of joining his brother in Brazil, who he believes has abandoned him, to start anew on a farm. Saeko, on the other side, is entangled in a life she wants to flee from. She's shackled to a cabaret run by a ruthless mob boss, Shibata, who thinks he owns her. The specter of a possible murder perpetrated by her hangs heavy in the air, deepening her desperation. Their chance encounter leads to an unexpected bond, as they find solace in each other's company. As Jôji extends a helping hand to Saeko, she reciprocates, their shared pain creating a powerful connection. Despite the looming uncertainty of their individual futures, they delve deeper into each other's pasts, revealing the extent of their struggles. The pair find themselves increasingly entwined, their troubles inexplicably intertwined. As Jôji continues to wait for news from his brother, the duo discovers that the seemingly separate threads of their lives are more interconnected than they could have ever envisaged. Like a relentless fighter in the ring, Jôji doggedly pursues the truth about his brother, risking his own safety in the process. "I Am Waiting" is a poignant story of redemption, resilience, and the power of unlikely friendships. It is a tale told against the backdrop of a world where dreams are lost and hope is but a flicker, where two broken souls find the courage to face their demons and, perhaps, to dream again.

I Am Waiting is a crime movie featuring Yûjirô Ishihara.

I Am Waiting is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.