Women Are Born Twice (1961) – (Japanese with English Subtitles)

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Important: Only RSVP if you have purchased or reserved a ticket and are certain you will attend. If you are unable to attend the event, do not RSVP. All information is in the description; please read it carefully.

Directed by: Yuzo Kawashima
Starring: Ayako Wakao, Jun Fujimaki, Kyū Sazanka
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 1961

Women Are Born Twice / A Geisha's Diary
Set in post-war Tokyo, A Geisha's Diary follows Koen, a young geisha navigating a society in which women's lives are shaped by social conventions, economic pressures, and the expectations of men. Working in a world where personal relationships and financial survival are deeply intertwined, Koen must constantly adapt to the desires and demands of those around her.
As different men enter and leave her life, Koen gradually begins to question her relationships, her identity, and the possibilities of a future beyond the roles society has assigned her. Her journey reveals the contradictions of a rapidly changing Japan, where traditional values coexist uneasily with emerging ideas of independence and personal freedom.
Directed by Yuzo Kawashima, one of Japanese cinema's most distinctive and underappreciated filmmakers, A Geisha's Diary combines subtle humour, psychological sensitivity, and sharp social criticism. Featuring a compelling performance by Ayako Wakao, the film explores gender inequality, social hypocrisy, identity, and the difficult process of self-discovery. Presented as part of Eye Filmmuseum's The Elegant Beasts of Yuzo Kawashima retrospective, this 4K restoration offers a rare opportunity to discover a filmmaker whose work helped bridge classical Japanese cinema and the Japanese New Wave. A nuanced and thought-provoking portrait of a woman searching for independence in a world determined to define her.

The film is in Japanese with English subtitles.

Trailer: Women Are Born Twice / A Geisha's Diary (1961) – Film and Trailer
Info and tickets: https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/whats-on/a-geishas-diary/1693745/1693811
When: Sunday 08/11/26

Meet at Eye Filmmuseum at 18:00. The film starts at 18:45. We will enter the theater approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Please do not be late.
And don't forget: whenever the film doesn't finish too late, we also stay afterwards for drinks and a chat! So don't rush off — we'd love you to join us! 🍷❤️

Theater: Eye Filmmuseum
Room: Cinema 3
Address:
IJpromenade 1
1031 KT Amsterdam
Seats: Seats are unnumbered.

I hope to see you there!