Ako (1964)
A tender, observational short film by Hiroshi Teshigahara capturing one young woman's day between work and freedom in 1960s Japan.
Ako - Movie Information
- Original Title: 白い朝
- Release Year: 1964
- Directed by: Hiroshi Teshigahara
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 29m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Production Companies: Ninjin Club
- Production Countries: Japan
- Alternative Titles: アコ (JP), White Morning (US)
Ako - Plot
A day in the life of Ako, a 16-year-old Japanese girl, and her friends and co-workers. An alarm clock wakes her in a dorm; she gets ready for work and travels to a large bakery. We see her with friends, chatting and laughing, as well as working. They go out, seven of them jammed in an old Pontiac: bowling, then to an amusement park, then driving around. Car trouble may put her at risk. Is she going to be okay? One of four film sketches on the problems of adolescents facing the adult world in the 1960s included in the anthology film That Tender Age (La fleur de l'âge, ou Les adolescentes). The three other sketches were directed by Michel Brault, Jean Rouch, and Gian Vittorio Baldi.
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Ako - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Hiroshi Teshigahara
Main Cast
- Miki Irie
- Teruko Hasegawa
- Yoko Matsushita
Writers
- Hiroshi Teshigahara
Producers
- Shigeru Wakatsuki
Ako - FAQs
What is Ako (1964) about?
Ako follows a single day in the life of a 16-year-old Japanese girl working at a large bakery. The film captures her daily routine, friendships, and leisure time — bowling, visiting an amusement park, and riding around in an old Pontiac — before a moment of potential danger arises.
Is Ako part of a larger anthology film?
Yes. Ako is one of four short film sketches compiled in the international anthology That Tender Age (La fleur de l'âge, ou Les adolescentes), which explores adolescence in the 1960s. The other three segments were directed by Michel Brault, Jean Rouch, and Gian Vittorio Baldi.
Who directed Ako (1964)?
Ako was directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker best known for Woman in the Dunes (1964). He also wrote the short film. Teshigahara was a central figure in Japanese New Wave cinema, celebrated for his visually inventive and humanist storytelling.
Who are the main actors in Ako?
The film stars Miki Irie as Ako, the teenage protagonist, alongside Teruko Hasegawa as Ako's boyfriend and Yoko Matsushita as Ako's friend. The performances carry a naturalistic quality that reflects Teshigahara's documentary-influenced approach to fiction filmmaking.
Where can you watch Ako (1964)?
Streaming availability for Ako varies by region and platform. You can check current viewing options, including any rental, purchase, or subscription services carrying the film, by visiting JustWatch, which aggregates up-to-date streaming information across multiple platforms.
How long is the film Ako (1964)?
Ako has a runtime of 29 minutes, making it a short film. It was produced as one segment of the anthology feature That Tender Age, which brought together four short films from international directors, each examining the challenges faced by young people entering adulthood in the 1960s.
Who composed the music for Ako (1964)?
The score for Ako was composed by Toru Takemitsu, one of Japan's most distinguished composers. Takemitsu frequently collaborated with Teshigahara during this period, contributing his distinctive blend of Western avant-garde and Japanese musical sensibilities to several of the director's most celebrated works.
What themes does Ako (1964) explore?
Ako examines the transition from adolescence to adulthood in 1960s Japan, portraying the tension between youthful freedom and the responsibilities of working life. The film observes its protagonist with quiet empathy, reflecting broader social anxieties about young people navigating an increasingly industrialized and modern society.
More About Ako
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