Is Sansho the Bailiff sad?

Yes, very. More sad than 99% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Sansho the Bailiff easy watching?

No. Less comforting than 92% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Sansho the Bailiff one of a kind?

Yes. More singular than 89% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Sansho the Bailiff violent?

Yes. More violent than 80% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Sansho the Bailiff scary?

Yes. More frightening than 76% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Does Sansho the Bailiff end with hope?

Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Sansho the Bailiff

Name: Sansho the Bailiff
Genre: Drama
Released: 1954
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 8.1
Cast: Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyōko Kagawa, Eitarō Shindō, Ichirō Sugai

Without mercy, man is like a beast.

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi

Produced by Daiei Film

1954124 min8.1 / 10

A profound meditation on cruelty, compassion, and moral redemption set against the brutality of feudal servitude, where separated family members must navigate systems designed to strip away their humanity.

In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.

Clusters

Religion Versus The System Trapped by Fate, Undone by History Consequences Of Wrongdoing East Asian History & Culture Immigrants and Exiles

Genres

Drama

Keywords

Governor Japan Courtesan Exile Banishment Prostitution Compassion Based On Short Story Decree Mercy Feudal Japan 11th Century Ancient Japan

Where to watch

StreamThe Criterion Channel
FreeFawesome, Darkroom
AdsPlex
RentApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
BuyApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

Questions people ask

Is Sansho the Bailiff sad? Yes, very. More sad than 99% of films.
Is Sansho the Bailiff easy watching? No. Less comforting than 92% of films.
Is Sansho the Bailiff one of a kind? Yes. More singular than 89% of films.
Is Sansho the Bailiff violent? Yes. More violent than 80% of films.
Is Sansho the Bailiff scary? Yes. More frightening than 76% of films.
Does Sansho the Bailiff end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

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