Picture Bride (1995)
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82% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(1,017 ratings)
The struggles of a young Japanese who leaves her home to marry an stranger are chronicled in this historical drama based on true stories. Picture brides were Japanese women contracted to marry Japanese sugar-cane laborers working in Hawaii. The couple would agree to marry based on the photos they… More The struggles of a young Japanese who leaves her home to marry an stranger are chronicled in this historical drama based on true stories. Picture brides were Japanese women contracted to marry Japanese sugar-cane laborers working in Hawaii. The couple would agree to marry based on the photos they sent to one another. Riyo, an orphaned 17-year old, sails from Yokohama to Hawaii to marry Matsuji. She is appalled to see that Matsuji sent her an old photograph and that he is 25 years older than she. Angered, the spunky bride refuses to sleep with her new husband. She is however obligated to work on the plantation. The miserable girl finds solace with her new friend Kana, a young mother. Riyo decides she will earn her way back to Japan even though, at only sixty five cents per day, it could take years to save the $300 for the return fare. She meets more obstacles and continues to stay away from her husband until a tragedy befalls Kana. This serves to bring the two together and leads Riyo to accept her new life. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kayo Hatta
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Apr 28, 1995 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 1, 2004
- Studio
- Miramax
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The film is poorly directed, but it deals with a rare issue, picture brides circa 1918, and is made by an insider, an Asian-American, which is a plus.
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Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Has a nifty swan song by the great Toshiro Mifune, but the rest of the film is pretty, underwritten snooze.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Sturdy story about the resilience of immigrants.
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Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The characters are disarming and the film itself is quite engrossing.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Youki Kudoh
as Riyo
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Akira Takayama
as Matsuji
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Tamlyn Tomita
as Kana
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Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
as Kanzaki
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Toshiro Mifune
as The Benshi
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Yôko Sugi
as Aunt Sode
- Yuki Kudoh
- Christianne Mays
