Mother
작가이면서 교수인 아버지 K, 자상하고 지혜로운 어머니, 선천적 뇌 장애자인 장남 이이요, 그림동화작가를 꿈꾸는 딸 마아짱, 재수생인 막내 호기, 이렇게 다섯 가족은 조용하고 평화로운 생활을 영위해 나가고 있다. 하지만 장애자인 이이요의 존재는 묵시적이고 잠재적으로 가정에 어두운 그림자를 드리운다. 그러나 가족들은 슬기로운 인내와 지혜로 그러한 것들을 극복해 나아간다. 만약 이이요가 정상이었다면 이라는 부질없는 생각은 절대 하지 않기로 서로 약속하고 지켜 나간다. 가족들 중에 특히 딸인 마짱이 이이요에게 각별한 애정과 관심으로 돌보아 준다. 가족들의 이러한 사랑으로 장애를 많이 극복한 이이요는 소리와 음악에 관해서 만은 천재적인 재능을 보인다. (시네마루 2010 - 이타미 주조 회고전)
The film stars two of Itami's regular actors, Nobuko Miyamoto as a geisha who brings luck to the men with whom she sleeps, and Masahiko Tsugawa as her unfaithful, sometimes partner. As well as showing her relationships with the man she loves and the men who employ her, it satirizes corruption and the influence of money in Japanese politics.
Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peace-loving masseur Ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. When he's caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival Yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series of sword-slashing showdowns.
Ryōko Itakura returns as the tough-as-nails government taxing agent. This time she must figure out a way to expose a fanatical religious cult lead by a corrupt sociopath.
The third chapter of the ‘Red Peony Gambler’ saga depicts the happiness and sadness of Red Peony Oryu’s life as she seals her femininity with a red peony tattoo and lives in world of chivalry and honor of the yakuza. This story takes place in the middle of the Meiji era in Nagoya. Oryu is wandering the country, training herself to reinstate her family name. With a written recommendation from Kumatora, she appears at the door of the Nishinomaru family. At the same time, the family is preparing for the gambling competition at the Netsuda Shrine Festival, which they have been hosting for generations. Meanwhile, the crooked Kinbara family is plotting to take over the competition. And now Oryu is forced to get involved in the struggle…
Kayo
When a gifted Japanese craftsmen dies, his three daughters are summoned to decide who will take over the family ribbon business in this family drama. Only one daughter cares to carry on her father's work, but she is met with resistance from her stepmother. One sister cares nothing for the artisan tradition, while the other is an icy opportunist whose only love is for money. It is the daughter who cares the most for her father's work who wanders away in a symbolic journey of self discovery.
