Sansho the Bailiff

Japanese master Kenji Mizoguchi made one of the most devastating and heartbreaking films ever with this masterpiece about a family torn apart during the medieval Japan where cruelty was paramount. A compassionate governor disobeys his superior and is sent to exile which leaves his family alone. After several years when his wife and children embark to find him, they fall prey to bandits who sell his wife into prostitution and the children to slavery. While it's set during a specific time and place, it's a timeless tale about the human condition. Hence the title refers to the villain of the story who's a product of his era where evil prevailed over goodness. Mizoguchi's precise and elegant film is breathtaking to say the least which is a great accomplishment. Along with his superb cast and crew, Mizoguchi made one of the greatest films of all time. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.