After suffering through a long and unsuccessful series of fertility treatments, Satoko and her husband Kiyokazu make the decision to adopt a child. Six years after adopting a boy they named Asato, Satoko has quit her job to concentrate fully on her husband and son. The family lives a peaceful existence until the arrival of a stranger.
Hiromi Nagasaku
Satoko Kurihara
Arata Iura
Kiyokazu Kurihara
Aju Makita
Hikari Katakura
Miyoko Asada
Shizue Asami
Hiroko Nakajima
Takako Katakura
Tetsu Hirahara
Masaru Katakura
Ren Komai
Misaki Katakura
Reo Satou
Asato Kurihara
Go Riju
Takeshi Hamano
Taketo Tanaka
Takumi Aso
Hitomi Hazuki
Maho
Rio Yamashita
Konomi
Kokoro Morita
Tomoka
Masami Horiuchi
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Hiroshi Yamamoto
Kiyokazu's Friend
Masaki Miura
Mishima
Shoko Ikezu
Kindergarten Principal
Ryuya Wakaba
Debt Collector
Munetaka Aoki
Debt Collector
Natsumi Ishibashi
Okada Sara
Director
Naomi Kawase
Writers
Mizuki Tsujimura, Naomi Kawase, Izumi Takahashi
Tina Baz
Editor
Yuta Tsukinaga
Director of Photography
Setsuko Shiokawa
Production Design
Naoki Sakakibara
Director of Photography
Yoichi Shibuya
Editor
Akira Kosemura
Original Music Composer
badelf
12/25/2021
The basic idea of the movie is pretty good but the story wanders all over the place. And the director's vision also wanders all over the place. Between those two faults, the movie is a mess. Still, I didn't turn it off in the first act.
Alunauwie
9/24/2025
True Mothers, adapted from Mizuki Tsujimura’s novel Asa ga Kuru, offers a deeply emotional exploration of motherhood through the intersecting lives of Satoko and Hikari, two women connected by a child and bound by sacrifice. Instead of focusing solely on custody conflict, the film thoughtfully portrays different forms of maternal love—both from the woman who gives birth and the one who raises the child. With strong performances, elegant visuals, and a non-linear yet clear narrative, the film leaves a lasting impression about the true meaning of being a mother. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)
