Best Of...
Japanese cinema: Drama
A Hen in the Wind (1948)
Yasujirô Ozu
In a slum district of Tokyo, not long after the end of WWII... With her husband Shuichi still awaiting repatriation, Tokiko struggles to bring up their four year old son alone...
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Yasujirô Ozu
A Mother Should Be Loved (1934)
Yasujirô Ozu
Whilst they are at school, two brothers - Sadao and Kosaku - learn that their father has just died from a heart attack. After the funeral, Okazuki, their uncle, visits their mother, Chieko, and asks her to carry on raising Sadao as if he were her own son...
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Yasujirô Ozu
A Page of Madness (1926)
Teinosuke Kinugasa
In a state asylum, an old man works as a janitor so that he can be near to his wife, who is incarcerated as one of the patients...
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Teinosuke Kinugasa
A Story of Floating Weeds (1934)
Yasujirô Ozu
A kabuki troupe, led by the ageing actor Kihachi Ichikawa, arrives in a small seaside town. Without telling anyone, Kihachi takes the opportunity to visit a former mistress of his, Otsune, who bore him a son many years ago and now runs a restaurant...
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Yasujirô Ozu
Akasen chitai (1956)
Kenji Mizoguchi
In Yoshiwara, the red light district of Tokyo, five women work in a licensed brothel owned by Kurazô Taya. The oldest of the five is Yumeko, a widow who turned to prostitution to support her son, who is living with her in-laws in the country...
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Kenji Mizoguchi
An Inn in Tokyo (1935)
Yasujirô Ozu
Accompanied by his two young sons, Zenko and Masako, Kihachi wanders around the industrial outskirts of Tokyo, desperately looking for work... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
Accompanied by his two young sons, Zenko and Masako, Kihachi wanders around the industrial outskirts of Tokyo, desperately looking for work... [More...]
The Bad Sleep Well (1960)
Akira Kurosawa
In modern day Japan, Iwabuchi is the Vice President of one of the country's most important construction companies. Not long ago, the company was implicated in a corruption scandal, although the matter was hushed up after one of its executives, Furuya, killed himself by jumping from a seventh floor window at the corporate headquarters... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
In modern day Japan, Iwabuchi is the Vice President of one of the country's most important construction companies. Not long ago, the company was implicated in a corruption scandal, although the matter was hushed up after one of its executives, Furuya, killed himself by jumping from a seventh floor window at the corporate headquarters... [More...]
The Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (1941)
Yasujirô Ozu
The Todas, a respectable, upper-class Japanese family, gather for a family photograph on the occasion of their father's 69th birthday... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
The Todas, a respectable, upper-class Japanese family, gather for a family photograph on the occasion of their father's 69th birthday... [More...]
Crossroads (1928)
Teinosuke Kinugasa
In the 18th century, a young man named Rikiya lives with his sister Okiku in a cheap rented apartment in the Red Light district of Edo... [More...]
Teinosuke Kinugasa
In the 18th century, a young man named Rikiya lives with his sister Okiku in a cheap rented apartment in the Red Light district of Edo... [More...]
Dragnet Girl (1933)
Yasujirô Ozu
By day, Tokiko leads a respectable life, working as an office typist for a large corporation. By night, she drops her pretence of respectability and becomes the mistress of a small time hoodlum, Jyoji... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
By day, Tokiko leads a respectable life, working as an office typist for a large corporation. By night, she drops her pretence of respectability and becomes the mistress of a small time hoodlum, Jyoji... [More...]
Drunken Angel (1948)
Akira Kurosawa
In post-war Japan, Sanada, a disillusioned doctor suffering from alcoholism, reluctantly extracts a bullet from the hand of a young hoodlum named Matsunaga... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
In post-war Japan, Sanada, a disillusioned doctor suffering from alcoholism, reluctantly extracts a bullet from the hand of a young hoodlum named Matsunaga... [More...]
Early Spring (1956)
Yasujirô Ozu
Shoji Sugiyama is a young salaryman who works for a company that manufactures fire bricks in Tokyo. Every day, he takes a crowded commuter train into the city centre, to the crowded office where he works... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
Shoji Sugiyama is a young salaryman who works for a company that manufactures fire bricks in Tokyo. Every day, he takes a crowded commuter train into the city centre, to the crowded office where he works... [More...]
Early Summer (1951)
Yasujirô Ozu
The Mamiyas are an extended family living under one roof in Kamakura. An old couple, Shukichi and Shige, share their house with their son Koichi, a surgeon who is married and has two young sons, and daughter Noriko, who works as a secretary in Tokyo... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
The Mamiyas are an extended family living under one roof in Kamakura. An old couple, Shukichi and Shige, share their house with their son Koichi, a surgeon who is married and has two young sons, and daughter Noriko, who works as a secretary in Tokyo... [More...]
Floating Weeds (1959)
Yasujirô Ozu
One hot summer, a travelling kabuki theatre company arrives at a provincial seaside town. Whilst the rest of the troupe are busy promoting their show to the townsfolk, its lead actor Komajuro visits his former mistress, Oyoshi, the owner of a small restaurant... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
One hot summer, a travelling kabuki theatre company arrives at a provincial seaside town. Whilst the rest of the troupe are busy promoting their show to the townsfolk, its lead actor Komajuro visits his former mistress, Oyoshi, the owner of a small restaurant... [More...]
Gate of Hell (1953)
Teinosuke Kinugasa
Japan, 1159, during the Heian Period. In the midst of a bloody uprising, the imperial palace of Sanjo falls to the rebel faction... [More...]
Teinosuke Kinugasa
Japan, 1159, during the Heian Period. In the midst of a bloody uprising, the imperial palace of Sanjo falls to the rebel faction... [More...]
High and Low (1963)
Akira Kurosawa
Kingo Gondo is a wealthy executive for a leading Japanese shoe manufacturing company. One evening, he hosts a meeting with several other executives at his luxurious house, which is perched high on a hill overlooking the city of Yokohama... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
Kingo Gondo is a wealthy executive for a leading Japanese shoe manufacturing company. One evening, he hosts a meeting with several other executives at his luxurious house, which is perched high on a hill overlooking the city of Yokohama... [More...]
Hiroshima mon amour (1959)
Alain Resnais
In the summer of 1957, an aspiring French actress travels to Hiroshima in Japan to work on an anti-war film. The city was totally destroyed when the Americans dropped a nuclear bomb on it at the end of the Second World War, but now it has been rebuilt and shows little sign of the past devastation... [More...]
Alain Resnais
In the summer of 1957, an aspiring French actress travels to Hiroshima in Japan to work on an anti-war film. The city was totally destroyed when the Americans dropped a nuclear bomb on it at the end of the Second World War, but now it has been rebuilt and shows little sign of the past devastation... [More...]
I Live in Fear (1955)
Akira Kurosawa
Japan, in the mid-1950s. Convinced that his country faces imminent destruction by atomic bombs, elderly patriarch Kiichi Nakajima plans to sell his foundry and move with his entire family to Brazil... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
Japan, in the mid-1950s. Convinced that his country faces imminent destruction by atomic bombs, elderly patriarch Kiichi Nakajima plans to sell his foundry and move with his entire family to Brazil... [More...]
The Idiot (1951)
Akira Kurosawa
Having been treated for epilepsy brought about by his wartime experiences, Kinji Kameda returns to his hometown. Penniless, the only person he can turn to for support is his uncle Ono, who is preoccupied with his daughter Ayako's marriage to the wealthy Tohata... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
Having been treated for epilepsy brought about by his wartime experiences, Kinji Kameda returns to his hometown. Penniless, the only person he can turn to for support is his uncle Ono, who is preoccupied with his daughter Ayako's marriage to the wealthy Tohata... [More...]
Ikiru (1952)
Akira Kurosawa
For thirty years, Kanji Watanabe has worked in the same office in a local government department, hoarding his money because he does not know what to do with it, afraid to take a day off work through fear that no one would miss him... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
For thirty years, Kanji Watanabe has worked in the same office in a local government department, hoarding his money because he does not know what to do with it, afraid to take a day off work through fear that no one would miss him... [More...]
Late Spring (1949)
Yasujirô Ozu
Professor Somiya, a widower in his fifties, lives in the suburbs of Tokyo with his 27-year-old daughter Noriko. It is an arrangement that suits them both... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
Professor Somiya, a widower in his fifties, lives in the suburbs of Tokyo with his 27-year-old daughter Noriko. It is an arrangement that suits them both... [More...]
The Life of Oharu (1952)
Kenji Mizoguchi
In 17th Century Japan, a fifty-year-old prostitute named Oharu looks back on her life in sorrow. When she was a young woman, she brought disgrace on herself and her family by falling in love with a man from an inferior caste... [More...]
Kenji Mizoguchi
In 17th Century Japan, a fifty-year-old prostitute named Oharu looks back on her life in sorrow. When she was a young woman, she brought disgrace on herself and her family by falling in love with a man from an inferior caste... [More...]
The Only Son (1936)
Yasujirô Ozu
Japan, 1923. Otsune is a poor widow who struggles to bring up her only son Ryosuke in the rural town of Shinshu. One day, Ryosuke's teacher Ookubo visits Otsune and persuades her to allow her son to continue his studies after he leaves elementary school... [More...]
Yasujirô Ozu
Japan, 1923. Otsune is a poor widow who struggles to bring up her only son Ryosuke in the rural town of Shinshu. One day, Ryosuke's teacher Ookubo visits Otsune and persuades her to allow her son to continue his studies after he leaves elementary school... [More...]
Oyû-sama (1951)
Kenji Mizoguchi
In late 19th century Japan, a young carpenter named Shinnosuke must choose a woman to take as his bride. So far his aunt's attempts to find him a suitable wife have failed, but he is no hurry to marry... [More...]
Kenji Mizoguchi
In late 19th century Japan, a young carpenter named Shinnosuke must choose a woman to take as his bride. So far his aunt's attempts to find him a suitable wife have failed, but he is no hurry to marry... [More...]
Ran (1985)
Akira Kurosawa
In 16th century Japan, the aging warlord Hidetora Ichimonji gathers together his family and announces his intention to pass on his power to his three sons, who will each have a share of his kingdom... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
In 16th century Japan, the aging warlord Hidetora Ichimonji gathers together his family and announces his intention to pass on his power to his three sons, who will each have a share of his kingdom... [More...]
Rashomon (1950)
Akira Kurosawa
In 11th Century Japan, a woodcutter and a priest are sheltering from a torrential downpour in the ruins of the ancient Rashomon gate... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
In 11th Century Japan, a woodcutter and a priest are sheltering from a torrential downpour in the ruins of the ancient Rashomon gate... [More...]
Red Beard (1965)
Akira Kurosawa
In mid-19th century Japan, Yasumoto, a young doctor fresh out of medical school, sees a bright future for himself and has high hopes of becoming the personal physician of the Shogunate... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
In mid-19th century Japan, Yasumoto, a young doctor fresh out of medical school, sees a bright future for himself and has high hopes of becoming the personal physician of the Shogunate... [More...]
Sansho dayu (1954)
Kenji Mizoguchi
In 11th Century Japan, an aristocratic woman, Tamaki, and her two young children, Zushio and Anju, leave their home to look for their father... [More...]
Kenji Mizoguchi
In 11th Century Japan, an aristocratic woman, Tamaki, and her two young children, Zushio and Anju, leave their home to look for their father... [More...]
Scandal (1950)
Akira Kurosawa
In present day Japan, Ichiro Aoye is an artist who makes the fatal mistake of offering a lift on his motorcycle to a famous singer, Miyako Saijo... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
In present day Japan, Ichiro Aoye is an artist who makes the fatal mistake of offering a lift on his motorcycle to a famous singer, Miyako Saijo... [More...]
Seven Samurai (1954)
Akira Kurosawa
Japan in the sixteenth century is riven by civil wars which allow gangs of maraudiung bandits to tyrannise village communities across the country... [More...]
Akira Kurosawa
Japan in the sixteenth century is riven by civil wars which allow gangs of maraudiung bandits to tyrannise village communities across the country... [More...]