''Wedding Ring'' (婚約指環 Kon'yaku yubiwa), also known as ''Engagement Ring'', is a Japanese black and white film directed by

Keisuke Kinoshita was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Ronald Berganbr>"A satirical eye on Japan: Keisuke Kinoshita" ''The Guardian'', 5 January 1999. While lesser-known internationally than contemporaries such as Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and ...

that was first released in 1950. The film depicts a

love triangle A love triangle is a scenario or circumstance, usually depicted as a rivalry, in which two people are pursuing or involved in a romantic relationship with one person, or in which one person in a romantic relationship with someone is simultaneo ...

involving an ill husband, his wife and his doctor. The husband (Michio) was drafted into the army for

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

shortly after the marriage, and didn't return home until 2 years after the war ended. He became ill a year after his return so the marriage bond has not had much chance to strengthen. When a handsome new doctor (Mr. Ema) begins to take care of Michio, the doctor and the wife (Noriko) begin to fall in love. Ema and Noriko have to balance their desires against their moral obligations, while Michio has to deal with his own emotions about the emerging situation. Certain objects play key roles in the narrative. For example, whether the wife wears her engagement ring symbolizes her willingness or not to commit adultery with the doctor, and whether or not the doctor wears the shoes that the wife buys for him symbolizes his willingness or not to commit adultery with her. A

railroad crossing A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level, as opposed to the railway line or the road etc. crossing over or under using an overpass or tunnel. The ...

where they have their first conversation symbolizes the danger of their flirting.

Cast

Jûkichi Uno (real name ; 27 September 1914 – 9 January 1988) was a Japanese actor. In 1950, he formed the with Osamu Takizawa and others. Personal life He is the father of musician Akira Terao is a Japanese musician, singer and actor. As of 2012, h ...

− Michio Kuki *

Kinuyo Tanaka was a Japanese actress and film director. She had a career lasting over 50 years with more than 250 acting credits, but was best known for her 15 films with director Kenji Mizoguchi, such as ''The Life of Oharu'' (1952) and ''Ugetsu'' (1953). W ...

– Noriko Kuki *

Mitsuko Yoshikawa was a Japanese actress who played in over 250 films, often under the direction of Yasujirō Ozu and Hiroshi Shimizu. She joined the Shochiku film studios in 1924 and gave her film debut in 1926 in ''Kujaku no hikari''. After the war, she becam ...

– Grandmother *

Toshirô Mifune was a Japanese actor and producer. The recipient of numerous awards and accolades over a lengthy career, he is widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time. He often played hypermasculine characters and was noted for his commandin ...

– Takeshi Ema

References

{{Keisuke Kinoshita Japanese black-and-white films Films directed by Keisuke Kinoshita Films with screenplays by Keisuke Kinoshita Shochiku films