Sansho the Bailiff

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Sansho the Bailiff ★★★★ The Bailiff; Sansho Dayu 1954

A world masterpiece by Mizoguchi about feudal society in 11th century Japan. A woman and her children are sold into prostitution and slavery. As an adult, the son seeks to right the ills of his society. Powerful and tragic, and often more highly esteemed than “Ugetsu.” In Japanese with English subtitles. 132m/B VHS . JP Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyoko Kagawa, Eitaro Shindo, Ichiro Sugai; D: Kenji Mizoguchi; W: Yoshikata Yoda; M: Fumio Hayasaka.