Her Brother (おとうと, Otōto, lit. "Younger brother") is a 1960 Japanese drama film directed by Kon Ichikawa. It is based on the novel OtōtobyAya Koda.[1][2][3]
InTaishō eraTokyo, 17-year-old Gen takes care of the household of her family due to her stepmother's rheumatism. Meanwhile, her younger brother Hekiro lives a carefree life, repeatedly getting into trouble and making gambling debts. Neither his stepmother interferes with his behaviour, nor does the detached father, a famous novelist. Only Gen scolds Hekiro from time to time, for which he ridicules her, although she is completely devoted to him. When Hekiro falls terminally ill with tuberculosis and is hospitalised, with his sister by his side every minute she can spare, he finally regrets his behaviour. After Hekiro's death, Gen collapses and is taken back home with anemia by the hospital personnel, but once she awakes, she returns to her role as the housekeeper without questioning.
In order to achieve a desaturated look, the film made use of a cinematographic technique known as bleach bypass.[1] At the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, Her Brother received a special mention by the French association of image and sound technicians (CST).[4]
Mainichi Film Concour for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction (Tomoo Shimogawara), and Best Actors (starring and supporting) Keiko Kishi, Kinuyo Tanaka, and Masayuki Mori[2]
