Japan, 1159. Moritō, a brave samurai, performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. Moritō falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is married.
Cinematography
First Japanese color film — those gates BURN.
Costume
Heian-period layers you want to fall into.
Acting
Machiko Kyō's face: micro-expressions masterclass.
Director
Teinosuke Kinugasa
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Japan's first color feature shot in Eastmancolor, and Kinugasa won Best Director at Cannes — the first Japanese director to do so.
The film adapts a 12th-century incident from the Konjaku Monogatarishū, but the real Kesa's motives remain historically debated — the film chooses the most tragic interpretation.
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