This post is part of Japan-O-Rama at Paul’s awesome site Paragraph Film Reviews! Head over there for a paragraph version of my review, or stay here for the wordier and probably less effective version!
Sansho the Bailiff [山椒大夫 Sanshō Dayū] (1954)
AKA Legend of Bailiff Sansho, The Bailiff
Starring Kinuyo Tanaka, Kyoko Kagawa, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Eitaro Shindo, Ichiro Sugai, Ken Mitsuda, Masahiko Tsugawa, Masao Shimizu, Chieko Naniwa, Kikue Mori, Akitake Kono, Ryosuke Kagawa
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Expectations: High, but I don’t know anything about it.
Sansho the Bailiff trades heavily in very depressing subject matter, but its defining theme comes from a proverb spoken by our main character’s father in the first few minutes of the film. The father is the governor of a small province, but his kindness towards his subjects has led to him being transferred to a very out-of-the-way, undesirable location. His wife, Tamaki, and their two children (Zushio and Anju) are sent to live with his brother for a few years, but before they leave the father says a few words to Zushio.
“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.”