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Why Not?

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6.4/10 • 16

1981-01-08 • 2h 31m

Drama

The film depicts carnivalesque atmosphere summed up by the cry "Ei ja nai ka" ("Why not?") in Japan in 1867 and 1868 in the days leading to the Meiji Restoration. It examines the effects of the political and social upheaval of the time, and culminates in a revelrous march on the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which turns into a massacre. Characteristically, Imamura focuses not on the leaders of the country, but on characters in the lower classes and on the fringes of society.

Directors
Shōhei Imamura
Editors
Keiichi Uraoka

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Shigeru Izumiya

    Shigeru Izumiya

    Genji

  2. Kaori Momoi

    Kaori Momoi

    Ine

  3. Masao Kusakari

    Masao Kusakari

    Itoman

  4. Ken Ogata

    Ken Ogata

    Furukawa

  5. Norihei Miki

    Norihei Miki

    Masuya

  6. Junzaburō Ban

    Junzaburō Ban

    Toramatsu

  7. Mitsuko Baisho

    Mitsuko Baisho

    Oko

  8. Shigeru Tsuyuguchi

    Shigeru Tsuyuguchi

    Kinzo

  9. Ako

    Ako

    Oyoshi

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    Status
    Released
    Original Language
    Japanese
    Budget
    --
    Revenue
    --
    Keywords
    edo periodshogunatemeiji periodend of the samurai classbakumatsu