Ushimatsu's father told him never to reveal his lower-caste heritage; years later, he now contemplates confiding in an activist fighting against such discrimination.
Acting
Raizō Ichikawa's eyes carry entire unspoken monologues.
Direction
Ichikawa frames shame like it's another character in the room.
Cinematography
Shadows that literally swallow the protagonist whole.
Director
Kon Ichikawa
Raizō Ichikawa
Ushimatsu Segawa
Rentaro Mikuni
Rentaro Inoko
Shiho Fujimura
Oshiho
Eiji Funakoshi
Keinoshin Kazama
Jun Hamamura
Ushimatsu's father
Yoshi Katō
Ushimatsu's uncle
Kyôko Kishida
Inoko's wife
Seiji Miyaguchi
School master
Hiroyuki Nagato
Ginnosuke Tsuchiya
Haruko Sugimura
School master's wife
Kumeko Urabe
Owner of the hotel
Mantarō Ushio
Ryōko Kamo
Bontarō Miake
Ganjirō Nakamura II
Buddha priest
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Shimazaki Tōson's 1906 novel that forced Japan to confront burakumin discrimination; the film arrived as the Buraku Liberation League was gaining national traction.
Kon Ichikawa made this between 'The Burmese Harp' and 'Tokyo Olympiad'—his most politically charged period, and possibly his most personally invested.
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