“When Father Was Away on Business” / “Papa wa, Shucchō-chū!” (パパは、出張中！), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1986, Emir Kusturica, Palme d’Or Winner, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) C273
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1986 for the Japanese release of When Father Was Away on Business (パパは、出張中！), Emir Kusturica’s acclaimed Yugoslav drama and winner of the 1985 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or / Grand Prix.
A beautifully designed Japanese poster for one of the major European art-house films of the 1980s, this piece combines warm colour, intimate family imagery, and prestigious festival billing into a highly elegant theatrical design.
Film background
Directed by Emir Kusturica and written by Abdulah Sidran, When Father Was Away on Business is set in post-war Yugoslavia during a period of political tension and social upheaval. The story is told largely through the eyes of a young boy, Malik, whose father is suddenly sent away after a careless political remark.
The film is both intimate and historical: a portrait of family separation, childhood memory, political repression, and resilience. Kusturica’s humane, richly textured approach made the film an international breakthrough, establishing him as one of the most important European directors of his generation.
Poster design
This Japanese B2 uses a warm, textured yellow-ochre background, giving the poster the feeling of aged paper or memory. The design is built around soft-edged photographic vignettes from the film.
At the top is a circular image of children gathered by candlelight, suggesting childhood curiosity, secrecy, and the emotional atmosphere of the story. The central image shows an affectionate family embrace: father, mother, and child locked together in a moment of tenderness. At the bottom are smaller images including the original title graphic otac na službenom putu and a wedding-feast scene, reinforcing the film’s world of family, community, and ritual.
At the upper left, the poster prominently announces:
「1985年 カンヌ国際映画祭 グランプリ受賞」
“Winner of the 1985 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix.”
The poetic right-side copy reads in part:
「マリク、ごらん 夜明けはもう近い――」
“Look, Malik, the dawn is already near—”
The main Japanese title パパは、出張中！ appears in large, vibrant pink lettering across the lower centre, with the director credit beneath:
「エミール・クストリッツァ監督作品」
“A film directed by Emir Kusturica.”
The overall design is tender, literary, and deeply human — a superb Japanese presentation of a Palme d’Or-winning European masterpiece.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photo carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents beautifully, with strong colour, clean imagery, attractive typography, and excellent overall display impact. Minor signs of age and handling may be visible, consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from this period, but this is a highly attractive surviving example.
This is an original 1986 Japanese theatrical B2 poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is almost 40 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
