Sound of the Mountain (1954)

In the tranquil suburbia of 1950s Japan, dwells the stoic businessman Ogata Shingo, who shares his life and workspace with his son and secretary, Shuichi. Their lives, though seemingly ordinary, are a complex web of unfulfilled desires and clandestine affairs. Shuichi, trapped in a loveless marriage with the effervescent Kikuko, seeks solace in an extramarital relationship. His father, Shingo, finds himself drawn towards Kikuko, viewing her as the radiant beacon of joy that his own wife, Yasuko, could never be. Bound to Shingo through a marriage of convenience following her sister's death, Yasuko's life is a testament to silent sacrifices. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Shingo and Yasuko's daughter, Fusako, abandons her marital home, seeking refuge at her parents' place with her two children. Amid the turmoil, Shingo stumbles upon the whereabouts of Shuichi's lover, while learning about Kikuko's secret hospital visit. The revelation of an aborted pregnancy throws their lives into further disarray, leaving them to navigate the turbulent waters of their intertwined lives amidst the silence of the mountains.

Sound of the Mountain is a drama movie featuring Setsuko Hara and directed by Mikio Naruse.

Sound of the Mountain is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.