Madadayo movie poster

Madadayo

7.3/10

Rating

134 min

Runtime

1993

Release Year

Akira Kurosawa

Director

Cast

Tatsuo Matsumura, Kyōko Kagawa, Hisashi Igawa, George Tokoro, Masayuki Yui

Quick Synopsis

Set in postwar Tokyo, the story follows Hyakken Uchida, a well-respected writer and professor who has recently retired. Despite facing difficulties in his later years, he finds support and encouragement from his former students, who gather annually to celebrate his birthday with a lively toast called "Not yet!" This tradition symbolizes their refusal to say goodbye to their teacher. The film presents a series of warm and gently humorous scenes that explore themes of aging, friendship, and the enduring bond between a teacher and his pupils.

Detailed Synopsis of Madadayo

In postwar Tokyo, beloved writer-professor Hyakken Uchida retires and is buoyed through hardship by the fierce devotion of his former students, who honor him each year with a raucous “Not yet!” birthday toast. Told in warm, gently comic vignettes, Kurosawa’s farewell celebrates aging, friendship, and the sustaining ritual of teacher and pupils refusing to say goodbye.

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