A Hen in the Wind

A Hen in the Wind

Year: 1948

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Yasujirô Ozu

Drama

Tokiko, a mother, patiently awaits her husband's return from WWII when her four‑year‑old son falls seriously ill. Unable to afford medical care, she turns to prostitution for the money. A month later her husband returns, discovers her desperate actions, and learns the painful truth. Together they face the emotional fallout of her sacrifice.

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Timeline & Setting – A Hen in the Wind (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Hen in the Wind (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1945-1946

Set in the immediate years after World War II, Tokyo faces shortages, rising prices, and a slow path to reconstruction. Families navigate scarce resources while adjusting to a new social order. The period provides the backdrop for desperate choices and moral tests.

Location

Tokyo, Japan

The film unfolds in postwar Tokyo, a city still rebuilding amid scarcity and rapid change. It centers on a working-class district where a mother rents a room and scrapes by through dressmaking. The urban setting emphasizes daily struggle, inflation, and the effort to mend shattered lives.

🗼 Tokyo 🏭 Postwar reconstruction 💹 Economic hardship

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Main Characters – A Hen in the Wind (1948)

Meet the key characters of A Hen in the Wind (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tokiko Amamiya (Kinuyo Tanaka)

A twenty-nine-year-old mother of a four-year-old, Tokiko struggles with postwar scarcity in a Tokyo working-class district. When hospital bills mount after her son's illness, she makes a desperate choice to prostitute herself for one night. The act brings shame but also a fierce determination to provide for her family and protect her child.

👩‍👦 Motherhood 💸 Financial Struggle 🕊️ Resilience

Shuichi Amamiya (Shūji Sano)

Tokiko's husband, who returns from the war belatedly and responds with brutality to Tokiko's act. He becomes obsessed with the act, discovers the establishment, and confronts the harsh truth of their situation. He seeks a solution by finding Tokiko a proper job, but his own volatility and guilt complicate their path to reconciliation.

💔 Marital Strain 💭 Conflicted Feelings 🧭 Social Pressure

Kazuichiro Satake (Chishū Ryū)

A longtime friend and former workmate who steps in with calm, pragmatic support. He advises Shuichi to forgive and offers practical help to ease Tokiko's burden, acting as a moral anchor in the couple's turmoil.

🕊️ Compassion 🎯 Guidance 🧭 Moral Support

Akiko Ida (Chieko Murata)

Tokiko's longtime friend and former coworker who provides emotional and practical support. She chides Tokiko for her desperate decision, illustrating the tension between judgment and solidarity in tight-knit communities.

👭 Friendship 🧵 Practical Help 💬 Judgment

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Major Themes – A Hen in the Wind (1948)

Explore the central themes of A Hen in the Wind (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Marital Strain

The couple's trust is pushed to the brink when Tokiko's desperate act exposes fault lines in their relationship. Shuichi's reaction oscillates between anger and guilt, revealing how fear and pride shape responses to perceived betrayal. The film examines how a single act can ripple through a family and test their resolve to rebuild.

💸 Economic Hardship

Postwar inflation and medical bills drive Tokiko toward prostitution as a last resort to care for her son. The story grounds personal decisions in material need, showing how poverty constrains morality and forces painful compromises. Consequences ripple outward, affecting both spouses and their community.

🕊️ Compassion and Forgiveness

Amid the turmoil, Satake offers understanding and practical help, urging Shuichi to forgive. The reconciliation arc emphasizes mercy over judgment, suggesting resilience comes from solidarity and second chances. Forgiveness is framed as a path to rebuilding trust and family.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

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A Hen in the Wind Summary

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A Hen in the Wind Timeline

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