In medieval Japan, a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.
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Title: Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
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1 win & 1 nomination.
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kinuyo Tanaka | ... | Tamaki | |
| Yoshiaki Hanayagi | ... | Zushiô | |
| Kyôko Kagawa | ... | Anju | |
| Eitarô Shindô | ... | Sanshô dayû | |
 |
Akitake Kôno | ... | Taro |
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Masao Shimizu | ... | Masauji Taira |
|
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Ken Mitsuda | ... | Prime Minister Fujiwara |
|
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Kazukimi Okuni | ... | Norimura |
|
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Yôko Kosono | ... | Kohagi |
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Kimiko Tachibana | ... | Namiji |
| Ichirô Sugai | ... | Minister of Justice | |
|
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Teruko Ômi | ... | Nakagimi |
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Masahiko Tsugawa | ... | Young Zushio (as Masahiko Kato) |
| Keiko Enami | ... | Young Anju | |
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Bontarô Akemi | ... | Kichiji |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
In mediaeval Japan a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression. Written by David Levene <D.S.Levene@durham.ac.uk>
Taglines:
A film of unparalleled beauty by the great Japanese Master Kenji MizoguchiGenres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
JapanLanguage:
JapaneseRelease Date:
1955 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Sansho the Bailiff See more »Filming Locations:
JapanCompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This film, like several films by director Kenji Mizoguchi from this period, was widely praised in both Japan and the West for its smoothly flowing camera work. But these camera movements were, in fact, planned and blocked by his great cameraman, Kazuo Miyagawa, rather than by the director, who gave Miyagawa free rein in his use of the camera. See more »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.See more »
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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".