The Insect Woman poster
Where to stream

The Insect Woman

7.219632h 3mNRMovieDrama

A woman, Tome, is born to a lower class family in Japan in 1918. The title refers to an insect, repeating its mistakes, as in an infinite circle. Imamura, with this metaphor, introduces the life of Tome, who keeps trying to change her poor life.

DirectorShōhei Imamura
WritersShōhei Imamura·Keiji Hasebe
ProducersKano Otsuka·Jirô Tomoda

Where to watch

Criterion ChannelCriterion Channel
Availability shown for United States · rights vary by country

Cast · Directed by Shōhei Imamura

SHSachiko Hidari
Sachiko Hidari
Tome Matsuki
JYJitsuko Yoshimura
Jitsuko Yoshimura
Nobuko
SOShoichi Ozawa
Shoichi Ozawa
Ken
HNHiroyuki Nagato
Hiroyuki Nagato
Matsunami
KHKayoko Honoo
Kayoko Honoo
Miyako
MHMasumi Harukawa
Masumi Harukawa
Midori
EA
Emiko Aizawa
Rui
EH
Emiko Higashi
Kane
DHDaizaburo Hirata
Daizaburo Hirata
Kamibayashi
SKSeizaburō Kawazu
Seizaburō Kawazu
Karasawa
TKTeruko Kishi
Teruko Kishi
Rin
TKTanie Kitabayashi
Tanie Kitabayashi
Madam

More from Sachiko Hidari · Lead actress

Kita no kazoku
Kita no kazoku
1973
Temptation
Temptation
1957 · 8.0
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
1985 · 7.8
The Maid's Kid
The Maid's Kid
1955 · 8.3
Shishun no izumi
Shishun no izumi
1953 · 7.0
Ryoma ga Yuku
Ryoma ga Yuku
1968
The Boy Who Came Back
The Boy Who Came Back
1958 · 7.6
Shin fūfu dokuhon ren'ai-byō kanja
Shin fūfu dokuhon ren'ai-byō kanja
1961
The Cast-Off
The Cast-Off
1959 · 8.0
The Black Current
The Black Current
1954 · 10.0
See all fromSachiko Hidari

More from Jitsuko Yoshimura · Co-star actress

Jūkyūsai
Jūkyūsai
1989
Wakko no kin medaru
Wakko no kin medaru
1989
dele
dele
2018 · 7.7
Cleopatra: Queen of Sex
Cleopatra: Queen of Sex
1970 · 5.7
Sadako
Sadako
2019 · 5.9
Onibaba
Onibaba
1964 · 7.7
Pigs and Battleships
Pigs and Battleships
1961 · 7.1
Dodes'ka-den
Dodes'ka-den
1970 · 7.1
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
1954 · 7.2
An Innocent Witch
An Innocent Witch
1965 · 7.2
See all fromJitsuko Yoshimura

More from Shōhei Imamura · Director

Tokyo Story
Tokyo Story
1953 · 8.1
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
1952 · 7.5
The Ballad of Narayama
The Ballad of Narayama
1983 · 7.5
Intentions of Murder
Intentions of Murder
1964 · 7.0
Hungry Soul
Hungry Soul
1956 · 6.2
Vengeance Is Mine
Vengeance Is Mine
1979 · 7.6
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
2001 · 6.6
The Eel
The Eel
1997 · 7.0
Pigs and Battleships
Pigs and Battleships
1961 · 7.1
Dr. Akagi
Dr. Akagi
1998 · 6.4
See all fromShōhei Imamura

More like this

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
1952 · 7.5
An Autumn Afternoon
An Autumn Afternoon
1962 · 7.9
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013 · 8.1
After the Storm
After the Storm
2016 · 7.2
Tokyo Story
Tokyo Story
1953 · 8.1
Throne of Blood
Throne of Blood
1957 · 7.9
Sakuran
Sakuran
2006 · 6.5
In This Corner of the World
In This Corner of the World
2016 · 7.9
A Man
A Man
2022 · 7.1
Late Spring
Late Spring
1949 · 8.0
The Lower Depths
The Lower Depths
1957 · 7.1
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959 · 8.1

The Insect Woman — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams The Insect Woman?

The Insect Woman is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is The Insect Woman on Netflix?

No, The Insect Woman is not on Netflix in United States as of September 2026. It's currently on Criterion Channel.

Is The Insect Woman on Amazon Prime Video?

No, The Insect Woman isn't on Amazon Prime Video in United States right now. It's on Criterion Channel instead.

Where can I watch The Insect Woman for free?

The Insect Woman is available on Criterion Channel in United States, but you'll need an active subscription — there's no free option right now.