Masaki Kobayashi Archives

Samurai Rebellion

Toshiro Mifune stars as Isaburo Sasahara, an aging swordsman living a quiet life until his clan lord orders that his son marry the lord's mistress, who has recently displeased the ruler. Reluctantly, father and son take in the woman, and, to the family’s surprise, the young couple fall in love. But the lord soon reverses his decision and demands the mistress’s return. Against all expectations, Isaburo and his son refuse, risking the destruction of their entire family. Director Masaki ...

G

8.2

1967 Action 121 min Play

7.8

Kwaidan

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

NR

7.8

1964 Drama 183 min Play

7.3

The Inheritance

On his deathbed, a wealthy businessman announces that his fortune is to be split equally among his three illegitimate children, whose whereabouts are unknown to his family and colleagues. A bevy of lawyers and associates scheme to procure the money for themselves, enlisting the aid of impostors and blackmail.

PG

7.3

1962 Drama 108 min Play

8.4

Harakiri

An unusual request for ritual suicide on a feudal lord's property leads to the unwinding of a greater mystery that challenges the clan's integrity.

NR

8.4

1962 Action 135 min Play

8.4

The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer

After the Japanese defeat to the Russians, Kaji leads the last remaining men through Manchuria. Intent on returning to his dear wife and his old life, Kaji faces great odds in a variety of different harrowing circumstances as he and his fellow men sneak behind enemy lines.

NR

8.4

1961 Drama 190 min Play

8.4

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

Kaji is sent to the Japanese army labeled Red and is mistreated by the vets. Along his assignment, Kaji witnesses cruelties in the army and revolts against the abusive treatment against the recruit Obara. He also sees his friend Shinjô Ittôhei defecting to the Russian border, and he ends in the front to fight a lost battle against the Russian tanks division.

NR

8.4

1959 Drama 178 min Play

8.3

The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

During the Second World War, Japanese conscientious objector Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. But an unexpected incident bring problems to Kaji's goals. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat--or worse.

NR

8.3

1959 Drama 206 min Play

7.1

Black River

The story follows a university student who moves into an apartment building and becomes involved with a waitress. The landlord then attempts to evict the tenants and sell the building through illicit means.

NR

7.1

1957 Crime 114 min Play

7.1

I Will Buy You

A talent scout moves sharply, dead-set on signing a promising athlete to the team the Toyko Flowers.

NR

7.1

1956 Drama 111 min Play

7.4

The Thick-Walled Room

A group of rank-and-file Japanese soldiers are jailed for crimes against humanity, themselves victims of a nation refusing to bear its burdens as a whole.

NR

7.4

1956 Drama 110 min Play

5.8

Somewhere Beneath the Wide Sky

This drama of middle-class life in postwar Japan tells the story lower-middle-class workers in the city of Kawasaki, and their troubles and travails.

NR

5.8

1954 Drama 109 min Play

6.4

Youth of the Son

The story of a father and two teenaged sons, and the rivalry between the two siblings as they begin to discover the attraction of girls.

NR

6.4

1952 Comedy 45 min Play