Today in History - ‘Rickshaw Man’ wins Golden Lion

CAIRO – 24 August 2017: Today in history, the Japanese romance drama, 'The Rickshaw Man,' wins the Golden Lion award at the 19th Venice Film Festival on August 24, 1958.

Titled 'Muhomatsu no issho' in Japan, ‘The Rickshaw Man’ was directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starred Toshiro Mifune, who is considered one of Japan's most popular actors. Mifune had made a name for himself as a legendary director, and ‘Akira Kurosawa's’ lead actor, yet still had a prolific acting career on his own, as ‘The Rickshaw Man’ shows.

The plotline follows the titular rickshaw man, played by Mifune, Matsugoro "Matsu", a poor man who nonetheless leads a happy, simple life. When Matsu encounters an injured child and leads the boy home, it starts the beginning of a friendship with the family after his father, Captain Kotaro Yoshioka, is impressed by Matsu's kindness.

Things take a turn for the worse when the father dies, leaving Matsu to take care of the boy and his mother, Yoshiko Yoshioka, who he begins to have feelings for despite their separate social standings. She begs Matsu to teach her son, Toshio, how to be a man.

The film premiered in the U.S. on the May 3, 1960.