When a Woman Ascends the Stairs poster
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When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

8.019601h 51mMovieDrama

Keiko, whom everyone calls Mama, narrates her story: she's a hostess on the Ginza, 30, a widow. She describes life's vicious cycle: acting cheerful around drunks, dressing and living well to convey confidence, needing money for these…

DirectorMikio Naruse
WriterRyuzo Kikushima
ProducerRyuzo Kikushima

Where to watch

Criterion ChannelCriterion Channel
Availability shown for Canada · rights vary by country

Cast · Directed by Mikio Naruse

HTHideko Takamine
Hideko Takamine
Keiko Yashiro
MMMasayuki Mori
Masayuki Mori
Nobuhiko Fujisaki
RDReiko Dan
Reiko Dan
Junko Inchihashi
TNTatsuya Nakadai
Tatsuya Nakadai
Kenichi Komatsu
DKDaisuke Katō
Daisuke Katō
Matsukichi Sekine
GIGanjirō Nakamura II
Ganjirō Nakamura II
Goda
EOEitarō Ozawa
Eitarō Ozawa
Minobe
KAKeiko Awaji
Keiko Awaji
Yuri
CNChieko Nakakita
Chieko Nakakita
Tomoko
JTJun Tatara
Jun Tatara
Goldfish
YFYū Fujiki
Yū Fujiki
Matsui
MOMasao Oda
Masao Oda
Yoshizo Yashiro

More from Hideko Takamine · Lead actress

Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
1931 · 7.0
Men vs. Women
Men vs. Women
1936 · 7.0
Tokyo Chorus
Tokyo Chorus
1931 · 6.8
Song of the Flower Basket
Song of the Flower Basket
1937 · 8.0
Young Lady
Young Lady
1937 · 8.0
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961 · 8.4
Happiness of Us Alone
Happiness of Us Alone
1961 · 9.0
The New Road: Akemi
The New Road: Akemi
1936 · 8.5
The Second Kiss
The Second Kiss
1954
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
1931 · 8.0
See all fromHideko Takamine

More from Masayuki Mori · Co-star actor

Rashomon
Rashomon
1950 · 8.0
This Day's Life
This Day's Life
1957 · 8.0
Forever a Woman
Forever a Woman
1955 · 7.6
Confession
Confession
1956
Ugetsu
Ugetsu
1953 · 8.0
Brother and Sister
Brother and Sister
1953 · 6.3
Dokuja-tō kidan: Joōbachi
Dokuja-tō kidan: Joōbachi
1952
The Cannery Boat
The Cannery Boat
1953 · 8.5
Wild Ducks and Green Onions
Wild Ducks and Green Onions
1968 · 9.0
Love New and Old
Love New and Old
1961 · 6.7
See all fromMasayuki Mori

More from Mikio Naruse · Director

Brother and Sister
Brother and Sister
1953 · 6.3
Battle of Roses
Battle of Roses
1950 · 6.2
The Stranger Within a Woman
The Stranger Within a Woman
1966 · 7.4
Two in the Shadow
Two in the Shadow
1967 · 7.8
White Beast
White Beast
1950 · 5.6
Wife
Wife
1953 · 7.2
Wife! Be Like a Rose!
Wife! Be Like a Rose!
1935 · 7.2
Love and Power
Love and Power
1930 · 9.0
The Angry Street
The Angry Street
1950 · 6.7
Learn from Experience, Part Two
Learn from Experience, Part Two
1937 · 6.3
See all fromMikio Naruse

More like this

An Autumn Afternoon
An Autumn Afternoon
1962 · 7.9
Sakuran
Sakuran
2006 · 6.5
Street of Shame
Street of Shame
1956 · 7.7
The End of Summer
The End of Summer
1961 · 7.5
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
1952 · 7.5
High and Low
High and Low
1963 · 8.4
Gate of Flesh
Gate of Flesh
1988 · 6.2
Gate of Flesh
Gate of Flesh
1964 · 6.6
Pigs and Battleships
Pigs and Battleships
1961 · 7.1
Intentions of Murder
Intentions of Murder
1964 · 7.0
Sisters of the Gion
Sisters of the Gion
1936 · 7.1
Sansho the Bailiff
Sansho the Bailiff
1954 · 8.1

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams When a Woman Ascends the Stairs?

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is streaming on Criterion Channel in Canada. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is When a Woman Ascends the Stairs on Netflix?

No, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is not on Netflix in Canada as of September 2026. It's currently on Criterion Channel.

Is When a Woman Ascends the Stairs on Amazon Prime Video?

No, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs isn't on Amazon Prime Video in Canada right now. It's on Criterion Channel instead.

Where can I watch When a Woman Ascends the Stairs for free?

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is available on Criterion Channel in Canada, but you'll need an active subscription — there's no free option right now.