Filmmaker Mikio Naruse takes a characteristic dour look at life in
When A Woman Ascends the Stairs
. The central character is a barmaid, who works day and night to avoid being thrown out into the street. She knows that, if she loses her job, the only profession open to her is the World's Oldest. But when the worst happens, the barmaid learns to live with herself while compromising her values. The film's original title was
Onna Ga Kaidan O Agaru Toki
.