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Trailer

Kabei: Our Mother

2008Movie2 h 13 min

DramaFamily
82
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Rotten Tomatoes88%80%

A deeply moving, melancholic family movie about history and family.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

An inspiring story of a mother's courage in a time of war.

Set in Tokyo in 1940, the peaceful life of the Nogami Family suddenly changes when the father, Shigeru, is arrested and accused of being a Communist. His wife Kayo works frantically from morning to night to maintain the household and bring up her two daughters with the support of Shigeru's sister Hisako and Shigeru's ex-student Yamazaki, but her husband does not return. WWII breaks out and casts dark shadows on the entire country, but Kayo still tries to keep her cheerful determination, and sustain the family with her love. This is an emotional drama of a mother and an eternal message for peace.

Feels like

  • Japanese Historical Drama
  • Family Resilience
  • Wartime Struggles
  • Melancholy
  • Motherhood
  • Emotional
  • Coming-of-Age
  • World War II
  • Hope

Cast

18 of 18

Crew

Directed by
Yoji Yamada
Written by
Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu
Produced by
Hiroshi Fukazawa, Takashi Yajima
Music by
Isao Tomita

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 26, 2008 · 2 h 13 min · Violence, Suicide Themes

Released
January 26, 2008
Runtime
2 h 13 min
Content
Violence, Suicide Themes
Genres
Family, Drama
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Available in
3 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Kabei: Our Mother?"

Questions about Kabei: Our Mother

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Kabei: Our Mother?

It streams in 2 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Kabei: Our Mother worth watching?

82
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 82 (IMDb 7.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 88%). Critics rate it higher (88 out of 100) than audiences (78).

Is Kabei: Our Mother okay for kids?

ViolenceSuicide themes

Yes: its content advisories are violence and suicide themes, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Kabei: Our Mother plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Kabei: Our Mother in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.