A Pale View of Hills

Etsuko eventually finds out the real reason behind Ogata-san’s visit. The older man keeps reminding Jiro about Shigeo’s article and requesting that Jiro write to him. Jiro does not want to get involved and becomes frustrated with his father’s requests. While they play chess one evening, Jiro becomes angry after Ogata-san insists they continue playing after the younger man loses. Ogata-san believes his son should be more persistent and not give up after the first several moves. Jiro claims he has more important things to think about and demonstratively turns to his newspaper. The father continues talking to his son and offering to show him how he could have won the chess game. Jiro angrily stands up, but in his attempt to overturn the chess board, he kicks the teapot, spilling liquid on the floor. He retreats to the bedroom, leaving Etsuko to clean up the mess. Ogata-san says that Jiro behaved in a similar way as a child, adding that even when people grow up, they do not change.

The following day, Etsuko and her father-in-law visit Nagasaki. They go to an art gallery, then to the new “Peace Park,” and finally decide to head to Mrs. Fujiwara’s shop. On the way there, they pass by the Matsuda house, from which they see Shigeo exit.

Ogata-san approaches Shigeo, and, after exchanging some pleasantries, he confronts Shigeo about the article. The young man confirms that what he wrote is his own opinion. He does not doubt that Ogata-san was hardworking and diligent, but he believes the older generation was misguided and taught children terrible things that led to Japan’s loss in WWII. Ogata-san claims that Japan lost because there was a shortage of weapons, not because of a moral failing.

After the confrontation, Etsuko and her father-in-law continue on to Mrs. Fujiwara’s noodle shop. Ogata-san is at first reluctant to visit the shop because he believes the old woman would be embarrassed to serve him, but Etsuko says that Mrs. Fujiwara is proud to have a business of her own. While they have lunch at the noodle shop, Mrs. Fujiwara asks about teachers who worked under Ogata-san and taught one of her deceased sons.

One day, as she watches out of her window, Etsuko sees a foreign car drive away from Sachiko’s cottage. Soon after, a thin woman arrives and goes into the cottage. Etsuko puts on her shoes and heads to the cottage, where she sees an unknown older woman sitting with Mariko. It is Sachiko’s cousin, who has come to confirm Sachiko’s plans to move back to her uncle’s house. However, Sachiko is absent.

When Etsuko returns in the evening, Sachiko is packing because Frank arranged for them to move to Kobe and, after that, to America. Mariko insists on bringing the kittens along, but Sachiko is upset and repeats that they are simply animals, not the girl’s children. She puts the kittens into the vegetable box and takes them outside to the river. Sachiko kneels by the water, takes one of the animals out of the box, and submerges it under the water. Sachiko looks back and sees Mariko up on the bank looking down at the two women. Sachiko takes the kitten out of the water but realizes it is still alive. She then puts it back in the box and submerges it, holding it down with her hands. The box floats away, and Mariko runs after it along the bank. Sachiko and Etsuko go back to the cottage.

The two friends continue their conversation. Sachiko reveals more of her plan to Etsuko: Frank will leave for America on his own on a cargo ship, but he will supposedly send money back for Sachiko and Mariko to follow him to America. Sachiko repeats that he arranged everything, and she will be patient.

As it gets dark, Etsuko decides to go out and search for the girl. She crosses the small wooden bridge and spots Mariko sitting between the rails. Mariko confesses she does not want to leave and calls Frank a pig. Etsuko angrily forbids her to talk in such a manner and claims that Frank is fond of her and everything will work out. Etsuko begins speaking in the first person, reassuring the girl that if the two of them do not like it there, they can come back, but they need to try. The conversation regresses and echoes the conversation from an earlier scene, when the two met by the river and Etsuko’s foot became tangled in a rope. Mariko becomes scared and runs away.

As Etsuko wakes up in her English home, she thinks she hears steps outside her door and a noise from Keiko’s room. She quickly realizes the sounds are coming from downstairs. Niki, unable to sleep, has already made coffee.

While talking over breakfast, Niki confesses she believes her father’s treatment of Keiko was not entirely fair because he largely ignored his stepdaughter. Etsuko explains that he was an idealist and believed they could make Keiko happy in England. In contrast, Etsuko says she always knew Keiko would not be happy in a foreign place but decided to immigrate regardless. Niki attempts to console her mother and absolve her of any blame.

After breakfast, Niki receives a call and decides to return to London. She requests a picture of Japan because a friend of hers is writing a poem about Etsuko and her life. The narrator finds an old calendar image of the Nagasaki harbor and mentions that it brings back a happy memory of an outing with Keiko when they rode the cable car.

As they say their goodbyes, Etsuko mentions the idea of selling the country house because it is too big for her, but Niki is against the idea. As the young woman walks away, she turns back and sees her mother at the door.