Movie spotlight
And the Soul Shall Dance
Originally staged by the East West Players, pioneering author Wakako Yamauchi's adaptation of her award-winning play, “And the Soul Shall Dance,” for KCET’s Hollywood Television Theatre is a poetic, haunting drama that reveals the hardships Japanese Americans faced during the Great Depression. Set in California’s Imperial Valley, Yamauchi's moving work explores the lives of two farming families as they struggle to make ends meet and assimilate in a so-called land of opportunity defined by systemic racism. - Mark Quigley, UCLA Film & Television Archive
Insights
Plot Summary
The film depicts the harsh realities of rural life in Japan during the Taisho era, focusing on the struggles of a young woman named Kiyo who is married into a farming family. She endures poverty, backbreaking labor, and the emotional toll of living in a patriarchal society. The narrative follows her journey of resilience and her quiet search for dignity amidst adversity.
Critical Reception
And the Soul Shall Dance is a critically acclaimed drama that offers a poignant and unflinching look at the lives of rural Japanese women in the early 20th century. It has been praised for its powerful performances, stark cinematography, and its sensitive portrayal of human endurance and the search for self-worth against overwhelming odds.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its authentic portrayal of rural Japanese life and its historical context.
Acclaimed for the compelling performances of its lead actors.
Celebrated for its poignant depiction of female resilience and struggle.
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Awards & Accolades
Nominated for the Golden Bear at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival in 1978.
Fun Fact
The film is based on a collection of short stories by the renowned Japanese author Haruko Tachiiri, known for her realistic depictions of women's lives.
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