Kwaidan

Release Date: 1965-01-06

Overview: 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.

Rating: 7.7 / 10

Cast

Michiyo Aratama

as First Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

Rentaro Mikuni

as Husband (segment "The Black Hair")

Misako Watanabe

as Second Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

Kenjirō Ishiyama

as Father (segment "The Black Hair")

Ranko Akagi

as Mother (segment "The Black Hair")

Crew

Masaki Kobayashi - Director
Shigeru Wakatsuki - Producer
Yoshio Miyajima - Cinematography
Shigemasa Toda - Art Direction
Yōko Mizuki - Screenplay

Reviews

CinemaSerf:

I'm always a little daunted when I settle down in a cinema seat for a film that is 3 hours long - I fear the last glass of wine may have been one too many - but this simply flew by. It is a compendium...