Season of Betrayal (1966)
A haunting 1966 Japanese film from Wakamatsu Production, tracing a war photographer's fractured return from Vietnam.
Season of Betrayal - Movie Information
- Original Title: 裏切りの季節
- Release Year: 1966
- Directed by: Atsushi Yamatoya
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 1h 17m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 13, 1966 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Season of Treason (US), Uragiri no kisetsu (JP)
- Production Companies: Wakamatsu Production
- Production Countries: Japan
Season of Betrayal - Plot
A press photographer returns to Japan from the war in Vietnam after losing his friend and fellow photographer on the battlefield.
Where to Watch Season of Betrayal
Looking for where to watch Season of Betrayal?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Season of Betrayal - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Atsushi Yamatoya
Main Cast
- Yuzo Tachikawa
- Shuri Taniguchi
- Hatsuo Yamaya
- Miharu Shima
- Mikio Terashima
- Yumiko Ichinose
- Shigechika Satō
- Masao Adachi
- Patrick Henry
- Shigemitsu Sone
Writers
- Yōzō Tanaka
- Atsushi Yamatoya
Producers
- Kōji Wakamatsu
Season of Betrayal - FAQs
What is Season of Betrayal about?
Season of Betrayal follows a Japanese press photographer who returns home from the Vietnam War after witnessing his close friend and colleague die on the battlefield. Back in Japan, he struggles to reconcile the trauma of war with everyday life, in a film that blends personal grief with broader political disillusionment.
Who directed Season of Betrayal?
Season of Betrayal was directed by Atsushi Yamatoya, a filmmaker closely associated with the Japanese pink film movement of the 1960s. He also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Yōzō Tanaka. The film was produced under Kōji Wakamatsu's influential Wakamatsu Production banner.
When was Season of Betrayal released?
Season of Betrayal was released on December 13, 1966, in Japan. It emerged during a particularly fertile period for radical and politically charged Japanese independent cinema, with Wakamatsu Production at the forefront of that movement throughout the mid-to-late 1960s.
Is Season of Betrayal based on a true story?
Season of Betrayal is not based on a specific true story, but it draws heavily on the real political climate of the Vietnam War era. The film reflects the anxieties and anti-war sentiment widespread in Japan during the 1960s, grounding its fictional narrative in a very real and turbulent historical moment.
Who are the main actors in Season of Betrayal?
The film features Yuzo Tachikawa and Shuri Taniguchi in leading roles, with Shuri Taniguchi playing a character named Mayuko. The supporting cast includes Hatsuo Yamaya, Miharu Shima, Mikio Terashima, Masao Adachi, and Patrick Henry, among others.
What is the connection between Season of Betrayal and Wakamatsu Production?
Season of Betrayal was produced by Kōji Wakamatsu through his independent studio Wakamatsu Production, which was known for pushing the boundaries of Japanese cinema in the 1960s. The studio regularly tackled taboo subjects and political themes, and this film fits squarely within that provocative tradition.
What films are similar to Season of Betrayal?
If Season of Betrayal resonates with you, films like Platoon (1986), Hamburger Hill (1987), and Combat Shock (1986) explore similar themes of war trauma and its aftermath. For Japanese cinema with comparable emotional depth, The Asadas! (2020) and Yakuza Apocalypse (2015) also make for compelling viewing.
How long is Season of Betrayal?
Season of Betrayal runs for 77 minutes, making it a compact and tightly focused film. That lean runtime is characteristic of many Wakamatsu Production titles from this era, which tended to deliver their political and emotional punch with economy and intensity rather than sprawling length.
More About Season of Betrayal
Explore further details about Season of Betrayal on these authoritative resources.