Sansho the Bailiff

Mizoguchi, being my personal favorite of the trio of Japanese filmmakers I have discussed before, crafts a beautifully executed tale in Sansho the Bailiff. While Zushio and Anju are on their way to visit their banished father they are attacked and separated from their mother. The two children are taken to work and grown up as slaves on the estate of the terrifying Sansho. Then one day when Anju hears a familiar song the children realize their mother must still be alive. This really kicks off the story and hunt for the young children's mother. I think this story really tells a lot about the importance of family and really puts the family figure up on a pedestal. A lot of Japanese filmmakers deal with the family life, Mizoguchi especially does this and a lot of early Kurosawa is the very same way. Early Japanese filmmaking really focuses on the family and its importance and this is no exception. Throwing together a daring tale to accompany the theme this is a fantastic film that deserves its place among the greats of Japan.