Rhapsody in August
Seen it?1991 | 98 min | Drama
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 38 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
An elderly Nagasaki hibakusha spends a summer caring for her four grandchildren, whose curiosity about the 1945 bombing stirs buried memories and moral questions. When an American nephew from Hawaii visits, the family confronts grief, guilt, and the possibility of reconciliation across generations.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
60% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$10 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 47K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- Sachiko MuraseKane (The Grandmother)
- Hidetaka YoshiokaTateo
- Tomoko OtakaraTami
- Mieko SuzukiMinako
- Mitsunori IsakiShinjiro
- Hisashi IgawaTadao
- Toshie NegishiKane's daughter
- Chōichirō KawarasakiNoboru
- Narumi KayashimaMachino
- Richard GereClark (Kane's Nephew)