The Misery of Others is as Sweet as Honey

A woman cartoonist struggles to make her way in the face of social restrictions. Her home office is the setting for encounters with editors, assistants and even her mother-in-law, and it’s often hard to distinguish friend from foe. Yet her ability to deal with problems somehow makes our own difficulties more bearable.

Directed by —, The Misery of Others is as Sweet as Honey leans on a strong ensemble — Shinobu Otake, Misa Shimizu, Haruko Sagara — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1994.