Gates

Natsume Sōseki was one of the most educated representatives of the Europeanized Japanese intelligentsia of the early 20th century and at the same time a typical Japanese man. This duality allowed him to create his unique literary style, which is... still appealing to modern readers. The ordinary clerk Sōsuke and his loving wife O-Yone live on the outskirts of Tokyo. The tranquility of family life is disrupted by a sudden obligation: Sōsuke must pay for his younger brother's education. Circumstances threaten to stir up the past and old family secrets — the couple suddenly finds themselves at a crossroads, at the "gates". Natsume Sōseki masterfully analyzes the crisis of identity, human relationships, and the deep inner world of the characters, reflecting on love, sacrifice, redemption, and the search for life.