Rhapsody in August (1991)

In the heart of rural Japan, far from the hustle of Tokyo, lives the elderly Kane, a survivor of the devastating atomic bomb blast that consumed Nagasaki on the fateful day of August 9, 1945. A tragedy that stole her husband's life and decimated her family. Nestled on the other side of the mountains from the scarred city, she remains in the same house, a living testimony to that catastrophic event. Kane's memory has begun to fade, blurring the faces and names of siblings lost to time and tragedy. Among them is her long-lost brother Suzujiro, who relocated to Hawaii back in 1920. After decades of disconnection, Suzujiro rediscovers Kane's existence, inviting her to reconnect by visiting his new life in Hawaii. Torn between the unfamiliarity of a sibling she barely recalls and her small world that has been shaped by the bomb's aftermath, Kane decides to send her two adult children, Tadao and Yoshie, to meet their uncle Suzujiro in her stead. While they journey to distant Hawaii, Kane's four grandchildren, city dwellers unfamiliar with their grandmother's past, come to spend their summer vacation with her. Letters from Tadao and Yoshie paint a vibrant picture of Suzujiro's life in Hawaii. He is a man of wealth, with a prosperous pineapple plantation and canning factory, an "American" family, and a history entwined with a Caucasian wife and a half-Japanese son, Clark. A request arrives with the letters, urging Kane to visit Hawaii with her grandchildren, a plea to bridge the generational gap and reconnect the scattered family. This unexpected reconnection stirs a whirlpool of emotions within the family. Kane grapples with the prospect of leaving her humble life behind to confront her past, while Tadao and Yoshie are lured by the promise of wealth woven into this newfound family connection. As for the grandchildren, they begin to unravel the threads of World War II, particularly the role of Americans, a history lesson that takes on a personal dimension. However, the family's dynamic might crumble under the weight of one critical revelation—Kane's husband's death by the atomic bomb. Determined to honor his memory, Kane insists on revealing the truth if they genuinely value their newfound family bond. As the past resurfaces, each generation must navigate their own understanding of family, history, and the long shadow of war.

Rhapsody in August is a comedy movie featuring Sachiko Murase.

Rhapsody in August is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Roku Channel.