The Japanese Wife

I have always found long distance relationships vastly over rated. And I am sure many others share the same opinion. And I am always in awe of those who manage to not only take the decision of getting into one but also effectively sustain it and see through the tough times. Na re baba. Not something that I am confident of doing. Been there, seen it, done that – unsuccessful @ it – not once but twice over and still didn’t learn from it and went ahead with it the third time only to get slapped square on the face once again. Seems surprising right in a day and age where telecommunications are the order of the day and you are only a Video Conference away from anyone right? Guess there is more to relationships than just the odd VC.


Snehomoy (Rahul Bose) is a Mathematics teacher in a village in the Sunderbans, West Bengal. He decides to write to Miyage (Chigusa Takaku) as a pen friend and she gladly accepts. They come from similar backgrounds in their respective countries – not too well off. They don’t need struggle through life to make ends meet but they are definitely not from the “well to do” part of the community. Snehomoy has lost his parents early in life and has been bought up by his Maashi (Moushumi Chatterjee). Miyage doesn’t have a father and her mother is not in great health. She comes from a small village in Japan just like Snehomoy does in India. The similarities are endless. Needless to say, the communication in broken improper English from both sides does not prove to be a hindrance in them building an understanding and concern for each other and therefore a strong friendship over a period of time.

A few letters down the road however, Miyage decides to take the friendship one step further. This is around the time that Snehomoy has started getting “suitable” alliances for his hand in marriage. He is surprised and confused when Miyage decides to pop the question instead. He is unable to understand what should be done but goes with instinct and accepts the proposal. They get married over mail by following the rituals that they would have otherwise and start living as husband and wife but in separate countries. Maashi is shocked to say the least with this development but over a period of time begins to accept the relationship because she sees Miyage putting in a lot of effort be it through continuous letters or gifts that keep finding their way to Snehomoy. All this despite Sandhya (Raima Sen), Maashi’s widowed god daughter who comes into the picture.

The Japanese Wife is a kind of movie one has come to associate with Aparna Sen. Very off beat and far from the run of the mill stuff that one would see and yet one that has a global audience for it. The movie is slow paced but at no time can one claim that the narration is loose. There is nothing in the movie that seems unnecessary. Rahul Bose is very good in his portrayal of the reserved Snehomoy. Raima Sen seems to have a knack of getting herself into quality roles unlike her sex kitten sister. She is able to successfully bring out the emotions of a young widowed single mother and the conflicts in her head about being somewhat attracted to Snehomoy and also feeling kind of unwanted in parts. As regards Moushumi Chatterjee, one does wonder if Bengali is her preferred language cause she seems to speak in an accent of sort which is more Bombayish. And lastly, the Japanese Wife, Chigusa Takaku seems to be extremely forced in her diction which is not quite like the way Japanese speak English. Overall, the movie is well made and deserves a 7 on 10. But as mentioned earlier, extremely slow and very Aparna Sen.

Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y_b192VGkI&feature=related