Sanshô dayû (1954)

Director:

Kenji Mizoguchi

Writers:

Ogai Mori (story)
Fuji Yahiro (writer)

Release Date:

1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A film of unparalleled beauty by the great Japanese Master Kenji Mizoguchi

Plot:

In mediaeval Japan a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him...

Plot Keywords:

Japan | Exile | Governor | Decree | Mercy

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Kinuyo Tanaka	...	Tamaki
Yoshiaki Hanayagi	...	Zushiô
Kyôko Kagawa	...	Anju
Eitarô Shindô	...	Sanshô dayû
Akitake Kôno	...	Taro
Masao Shimizu	...	Masauji Taira
Ken Mitsuda	...	Prime Minister Fujiwara
Kazukimi Okuni	...	Norimura
Yôko Kosono	...	Kohagi
Noriko Tachibana	...	Namiji
Ichirô Sugai	...	Minister of Justice
Teruko Omi	...	Nakagimi
Masahiko Kato	...	Young Zushio
Keiko Enami	...	Young Anju
Bontarô Akemi	...	Kichiji

Also Known As:

Legend of Bailiff Sansho (USA)
Sansho the Bailiff (UK)
The Bailiff (USA)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG (1998) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | UK:A | Hong Kong:I

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Daiei Studios

Trivia:

'Kenji Mizoguchi' initially intended to center the film around Sansho, the Slavelord. However, the film ended up with the sad story of Zushio and Anju as its narrative, dramatic center.

Quotes:

Masauji Taira: [Speaking to his son Zushio on the verge of being exiled and separated from his family] Zushio, I wonder if you'll become a stubborn man like me. You may be too young to understand, but hear me out anyway. Without mercy, man is like a beast. Even if you are hard on yourself, be merciful to others. Men are created equal. Everyone is entitled to their happiness.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Aru eiga-kantoku no shogai (1975)

A haunting, heartbreaking masterpiece

Man's inhumanity to man is presented here with no artifice. This has long been a favorite of mine, although it's difficult to sell many others on the premise -- an honest, benevolent Governor in medieval Japan is imprisoned by the military regime, forcing his wife, son, and daughter to fend for themselves. They are soon captured, separated, and sold into slavery, but remained determined to reunite.

There's something about the medieval Japanese setting that lends itself to explorations of grandiose themes painted with a broad brush. This will break your heart, and belongs on your shelf next to "Ran".