Sansho the Bailiff - The Criterion Collection

Kenji Mizoguchi directs this Japanese period drama starring Eitaro Shindo, Kyoko Kagawa and Yoshiaki Hanayagi.

In eleventh century Japan, a noble family are rent asunder after the father, a local governor, attempts to treat peasants in a humane manner.

The son Zushio (Hanayagi) and daughter Anju (Kagawa) are sold into slavery to evil bailiff Sansho (Shindo).

Eventually, Zushio begins to adopt Sansho's barbaric ways, despite Anju's constant reminders of their exiled father's noble sacrifice.