“Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one.” That is the opening of the film, A Majority of One, which deals with one woman’s relationship with her family and a Japanese man.
Bertha Jacoby (Russell) lives a quiet life in Brooklyn. This Jewish woman is proud of her family, which now consists only of her daughter Alice and her son-in-law Jerry, who is in the diplomatic service. Bertha lives by the Jewish laws, however in this modern age, she is able to bend a little to accommodate others.
When Jerry and Alice come to visit to tell them their news, Bertha is excited, hoping the news will be that Alice is about to make her a grandmother. When they inform her the news is that Jerry is going to be posted in Japan, Bertha is silent. Her son was killed in WWII by the Japanese and she is saddened that her daughter will be living among the people who killed her brother.
After a few moments of solitude, Bertha realizes that she behaved badly and congratulates her kids on their new post. But things change again when they invite her to join them. Initially she balks at the idea, but then decides it is the only way to see her daughter who will be in Japan for three years.
A Gentle Jewish Woman Meets a Gentle Buddhist Man
On the voyage over to Japan the family meets Mr. Asano (Guinness), one of Japan’s top businessmen. Asano and Jerry will soon be in negotiations over exports. Bertha is distant at first. He is the first Japanese man she has met and her wounds from the war are still very deep. In time their friendship blossoms after Mr. Asano divulges that he also lost his children in the war. Although she blames him for the war, he tells her that he and his wife never wanted a war. It is the government that is to blame, not the people of Japan.
Bertha and Mr. Asano become good friends during the ocean crossing. Her children caution her that perhaps he is just getting close to her because of the upcoming negotiations. Bertha is hurt by the accusations but nevertheless goes along with their suggestion that she put a little distance between herself and Mr. Asano.
Living in Japan is not what Bertha expected. She is almost afraid to go out of the house. While Alice is flitting around at diplomatic social events and Jerry is at work, Bertha is stuck in the gloomy, dingy home, with only the houseboy to keep her company.
This outspoken woman is a gentle soul. She is wise beyond her years and even though she might not be as highly educated as her children, she has more wisdom than the two of them combined.
Confronting Prejudice
When Bertha and Mr. Asano finally spend time together in Japan, they have a wonderful evening. She feels young again and is treated like a woman of substance. However, when she informs her children, their reaction is not what she had hoped it would be. It is not only that Mr. Asano is Japanese that concerns them, it is also the fact that he is Buddhist.
Bertha realizes she does not belong in Japan. But the love that exists between Mr. Asano and Bertha transcends the miles. This gentle love story is sweet and touching. It is a story of not only a second change at love for these senior citizens, but it is also a story of learning to live with other cultures.
As they say in the film, “If you want to stop prejudice, you’ve got to stop it in yourself.”
A Majority of One is part of the new Warner Archive Collection. It was produced in 1961 and is just as heartwarming today as it was when it premiered.
- Studio: Warner Brothers
- Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Running Time: 155 minutes
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