Sansho the Bailiff

Harry Rossi

One of the most emotionally painful films I've seen in recent memory. Astonishing. An absolutely beautiful story of how ideals can transcend the worst misery. I feel silly for having waited so late to watch any Mizoguchi, seeing that this is my first. The mastery of the images and the acting told me very strongly just how tightly in control Mizoguchi was of his craft. One of the best Japanese films I've ever seen.

Howard Orr

Beautiful in all the expected ways, but what makes it extraordinary is that very the fruition of Tamaki, Anju and Zushio's lives is to live through the humane teachings of their respective husband and father. The singular greatness of Mizoguchi transforms an unfortunate tale of slavery into the closest cinema has ever got to Aeschylus's suffering into truth; who else would dare to do that, or even want to?

Matthew Martens

Exquisite torture. Is that too precious? Maybe, but the film isn't. A towering work of great beauty, power, and pathos, Sansho is also, in the great Japanese tradition, built on the close reading and rigorous observation of difficult -- not to say hopeless -- social realities. Fearsome and very fine.

Graveyard Poet

Mizoguchi's 1954 masterwork is a tragic and timeless tale about the pain and suffering human beings inflict upon one another, the exploitation of the lower classes for cheap labor, and the struggle for mercy, justice, and compassion. One of the most poignant and philosophical endings in film history. Moved me to tears.

Slowart

absolutely ruthless story about humanism (mizoguchi is notoriously ruthless towards women) the best part of it for me is music and very graphic compositions with thorny trees and bushes, which clearly signify looming danger, which is almost everywhere

Lynch/Fellini

Might just be one of the best films I have ever seen. Tragic, up close, and personal. Kenji Mizoguchi was a genius!

Lorna Singh

Hard to see how this powerful,breathtaking work of art isn't more well known.Takes on issues which are part of being human and has one of the most memorable closing scenes in cinema history.

Eloi MV

The biggest masterpiece I had yet to see and the best of them I was told they were before actually seeing them.