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:

Taro: [to Zushio] I found that humans have little sympathy for things that don't directly concern them. They're ruthless. Unless those hearts can be changed, the world you dream of cannot come true. If you wish to live honestly with your conscience, keep close to the Buddha.

Movie Connections:

Version of Anju to zushio-maru (1961)

A timeless masterpiece

The first time I saw this film was when I was in university. It impressed me greatly then. Watching it again recently invoked the same emotion - I was deeply saddened by the horrific acts one human can do to the other. And guess what, a century later the human race has not really advanced that much in this area.

While the film also highlights the noble side of us - compassion and mercy to the weak, maintenance of integrity amid suffering - it is the downside of it that gets me. I finished the movie feeling depressed, as I did several decades ago.

Super B/W photography, a good story, and masterly directing by Mizoguchi make this a classic film of all time. Find an evening when you yearn for artistic fulfillment, and yet are prepared to pay an emotional price for it. Highly recommended for the serious film buffs.