A Distant Cry from Spring (1980): Cast & Plot
A Distant Cry from Spring is a 1980 drama directed by Yoji Yamada, starring Chieko Baisho as Tamiko Kazami, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Ken Takakura. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 3m (123 min)
- Director
- Yoji Yamada
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Shochiku
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is A Distant Cry from Spring About?
The premise of A Distant Cry from Spring without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
On a storm‑tossed night a solitary farmer and his young son in rural Hokkaido find their quiet routine upended by the arrival of a wandering man. He awakens a dormant romance in the mother, teaches the boy lessons of resilience and compassion, and then departs with the autumn wind, leaving the family to face the lingering warmth of his memory.
A Distant Cry from Spring Themes & Keywords
· 23 tags- japanese
- straw hat
- asian
- man boy relationship
- cousin cousin relationship
- mysterious stranger
- ranch
- manhood
- hope
- loyalty
- loneliness
- horse racing
+11 more Show fewer
- fistfight
- horse
- suitor
- police detective
- mother son relationship
- coffee
- rainstorm
- cow
- single mother
- dead father
- brother brother relationship
A Distant Cry from Spring Cast & Characters
Chieko Baisho leads the cast as Tamiko Kazami, with Hidetaka Yoshioka as Takeshi Kazami and Ken Takakura as Kosaku Tajima. Directed by Yoji Yamada; 22 actors are credited in all.
- Director Yoji Yamada
-
Chieko Baisho as Tamiko Kazami - Hidetaka Yoshioka as Takeshi Kazami
-
Ken Takakura as Kosaku Tajima - Mizuho Suzuki as Shuunichiro Tajima
Also Starring in A Distant Cry from Spring
· 18 more- Kiyoshi Atsumi Kondo
- Tetsuya Takeda Katsuo
- Tokuko Sugiyama Housewife Next Door
- Kyōichi Satō
- Gō Awazu Saburo Abuta
- Kazuhiko Kasai
- Nobuo Takagi
- Hajime Hana
- Keiji Tsuchida
- Seiji Shinohara
- Tappei Shimokawa
- Takuji Aoki
- Masanori Hata Veterinarian
- Yasuhisa Sonoda
- Noko Konoha Kayoko
- Taijirou Ono
Show all 22 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Yoji Yamada
More films directed by Yoji Yamada: Mom, Is That You?!, It’s a Flickering Life, Tora-san, Wish You Were Here and Nagasaki: Memories of My Son.
A Distant Cry from Spring Plot Summary
What happens in A Distant Cry from Spring from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the vast, sparsely populated expanse of Hokkaido, Japan, recently widowed Tamiko Kazami, [Chieko Baisho], struggles to maintain her small dairy farm while raising her young son Takeshi [Hidetaka Yoshioka] on her own. The relentless rhythms of farm life—milking, haying, feeding cows, repairing equipment—fill her days, and every hour is a test of endurance and quiet resolve.
One stormy night, as Tamiko and Takeshi shelter from thunder in their humble farmhouse, a lone stranger named Kōsaku Tajima, [Ken Takakura], knocks at the door seeking refuge. Wary but compassionate, Tamiko allows him to sleep in the barn; during the night, Tajima even helps with a cow’s calving. At dawn, he thanks them and quietly disappears.
Full summary
The whole story of A Distant Cry from Spring, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know A Distant Cry from Spring?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the recently widowed mother who runs the dairy farm?
A Distant Cry from Spring Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Haruka naru yama no yobigoe” and “远山的呼唤”.
- Also known as
-
- Haruka naru yama no yobigoe
- 远山的呼唤
- Llanto de Primavera
- Ett rop ur fjärran
- 遠山的呼喚
- Зов далеких гор
- 아득한 산너머에서 부르는 소리
Seen A Distant Cry from Spring?
Movies Like A Distant Cry from Spring
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Late Spring, Early Spring and Echo of Silence.
A Distant Cry from Spring FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of A Distant Cry from Spring, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Distant Cry from Spring?
A Distant Cry from Spring runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).
When was A Distant Cry from Spring released?
A Distant Cry from Spring was released on March 15, 1980.
Who directed A Distant Cry from Spring?
A Distant Cry from Spring was directed by Yoji Yamada.
More films by Yoji Yamada Who is in the cast of A Distant Cry from Spring?
A Distant Cry from Spring stars Chieko Baisho as Tamiko Kazami, Hidetaka Yoshioka as Takeshi Kazami and Ken Takakura as Kosaku Tajima, among 22 credited actors.
Does A Distant Cry from Spring have a post-credit scene?
No. A Distant Cry from Spring has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is A Distant Cry from Spring in?
The original language of A Distant Cry from Spring is Japanese.
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