Shozo, A Cat and Two Women (猫と庄造と二人のをんな, Neko to Shōzō to Futari no Onna) is a 1956 Japanese comedy-drama film directed by Shirō Toyoda and starring Hisaya Morishige, Isuzu Yamada, and Kyōko Kagawa. It is based on the 1936 novella of the same name by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.
The film tells the story of Shōzō, a timid man who is dominated by his mother and his two wives. His first wife, Shinako, is boring and traditional, while his second wife, Fukuko, is trampish and crude. Shōzō finds solace in the company of his cat, Lily, who is the only one who truly understands him.
When Shinako moves out, Shōzō's mother, Orin, encourages him to marry Fukuko, the young daughter of his wealthy uncle Nakajima. Shōzō is initially reluctant, but he eventually agrees to the marriage.
However, Shōzō's new marriage does not bring him the happiness he had hoped for. Fukuko is just as demanding as Shinako, and she is also unfaithful and abusive to him. Shōzō becomes increasingly isolated and withdrawn, and he finds himself turning to Lily more and more for companionship.
Shozo, A Cat and Two Women is a scathing satire of Japanese society and the traditional roles of men and women. It is also a moving story about a man's search for love and acceptance.
The film was critically acclaimed upon its release, and it won several awards, including the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film. It is considered to be one of the finest Japanese films of the 1950s.
As a lifetime cat lover I was deeply moved by this film. If possible read the short novel by Junichiro Tanizaki first.
I have located two other movies on YouTube based on a novel by Tanizaki, The Makioka Sisters and They Key which I hope to watch soon.
Uh oh, deeply moved as a cat lover?! That sounds like a sad film I'll save for another day! (But I've long meant to read the author's books, so I won't say "never" either.)
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