Madonna's Lullaby

When Mizushima saw the name "Kashiwagi" listed as one of the organizers of the reunion, he was a little surprised. Kashiwagi was ignored by everyone because of his unusually short stature and ugly appearance. Who would have thought that such a man would be the initiator of the class reunion? When Mizushima returned home, he saw Kashiwagi, who had lost both legs and was awkwardly dragging his prosthetic legs, and his wife, Kano Takako, who was hailed as a Madonna in her student days and monopolized the attention of men.

Directed by Shinichi Kawamura, Madonna's Lullaby leans on a strong ensemble — Kei Ōmura, Noboru Iguchi, Yuhei Mogi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1997.