When A Woman Ascends The Stairs

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

In Naruse's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs the protagonist, Keiko, is shown climbing the stairs to her bar in different scenes throughout the movie. These stair scenes are used to symbolically convey Keiko's strength and perseverance to overcome the social complications placed in her life. Naruse expresses this through the use of specific camera shots, music, actor direction and plot elements.

Keiko's first ascension scene is begun with a far shot down a dark, but busy alley, dwarfing Keiko as she walks to the bars entrance. A jazzy tune is played in the background, which seems to be Keiko's theme, and suggests a cool determination amidst a dark atmosphere. The first shot and opening music create the initial signs of Keiko's struggle, a seemingly small woman (from the far shot) caught up in a scandalous occupation (from the scene of the dark alley) but with enough pride and willpower to face it all (from her theme music). Once she enters the passage to the stairs, the shot changes to a frontal shot of Keiko from on top of the stairs. Keiko stops at the foot of the stairs, and peers upward. There is a cut to a point of view from Keiko, as we see the massive staircase before her. Again, this shot makes Keiko look diminutive compared to the tall flight of stairs. The camera angle also exaggerates the length of the stairs, as we do not see the full flight of stairs from above and the point of view shot is taken from very low, possibly on the ground. This exaggeration adds to the melodramatic feeling of the movie and causes Keiko's task to seem even more daunting. She begins to narrate as she ponders the obstacle, saying "After it gets dark, I have to climb the stairs, and that's what I hate." This narration let's us know for sure that Keiko does not enjoy facing these stairs. The jazz continues to play and after a short hesitation, she begins to ascend the steps and the shot changes to a close shot, following just her feet. The shot hides the emotion we would see in Keiko's face and concentrates on her physical surmounting of the obstacle. She makes progress up the stairs and continues her narration with, "But once I'm up, I can take whatever happens." Her statement confirms that the physical triumph over the stairs is her preparation and the transformation she needs to overcome any doubts she has about her current career, as well as her life. The shot again switches to the top of the stairs, where Keiko is seen conquering her foe and only at the top of the stairs, looks up instead of concentrating on the difficult journey below her feet. Once she exits the stairs, the music changes and Keiko becomes a flirtatious and inviting bar hostess. Emotionally, Keiko has triumphed over her doubts and is ready to do business. This is Keiko's first show of strength through the use of the stairs, which helps set the tone for her character and lays the foundation of struggle and triumph for the plot.

The second ascension has many similarities to Keiko's first stair scene, but also introduces a few differences. This scene occurs after Keiko visits her old apprentice's bar, Yuri, and begins to worry about the competition she is up against. The same shot is scene of the dark alley, with Keiko heading towards the entrance, but this time the music does not start until she begins her ascent. This could be because she does not take on her determined attitude until she catches a glimpse of the obstacle and decides to climb it. She is seen entering the doorway from the camera at the top of the stairs, glaring down at a minute Keiko. There is no point of view shot. She hesitates at the bottom, asking herself, "What should I do?" This repeated camera angle dwarfs Keiko once again and the hesitation and question present new doubts she has in her mind. Keiko's theme cues as she begins to climb, still staring downward, and the close foot shot is repeated. But this time Keiko narrates, "I was worried and had to make a decision," and comes to a stop on one of the steps. A short hesitation is observed until the camera snaps to a shot behind Keiko who hurriedly moves up the steps whilst fixing her kimono and hair. This sequence suggests a slight hesitation as she made here decision, and then the action quickly taken as soon as it was decided. The stairs provided Keiko with motivation and confidence, ultimately allowing her to make the decision to change bars so she can contend with Yuri. The scene changes as Keiko narrates, telling the audience that she changed bars. The narration is accompanied by a shot of the "Carton Bar" sign and a view of the new stairs Keiko will be climbing.

Keiko's third ascension is briefer than any of the others and doesn't seem as important. The scene occurs after she has been proposed to by Sekine and has been acting like a housewife. A shot echoing the alley shots of the first two ascensions is present in the third scene, but is a brighter, commercial street rather than a dark alley. Keiko approaches the bar entrance with a bouncier, rushed stride, as opposed to her previous solemn gait which was apparent in the earlier

...