Sansho the Bailiff (1954)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bob S

  
  A really beautiful, simple movie. Not my absolute favorite Mizoguchi but still freaking great. Brilliant acting and stunningly rich black and white cinematography. Set in the Heian period, during 11th century, well before most Japanese historical dramas.

• First L

  
  Kenji Mizoguchi's 1954 film "Sansho the Bailiff" is positively Dickensian in it's measure of human suffering, although it is apparently an old japanese fable about the virtues of mercy and compassion. When the governor of a province refuses to crack down and… More
  Kenji Mizoguchi's 1954 film "Sansho the Bailiff" is positively Dickensian in it's measure of human suffering, although it is apparently an old japanese fable about the virtues of mercy and compassion. When the governor of a province refuses to crack down and execute some protestors, he and his family are exiled. His wife and children are separated from him, and on their way to re-join the father they are abducted by slave traders and sold into slavery. The mother is sold to a brothel and the brother and sister are sold to Sansho the bailiff, who is overseer of the mansion belonging to the Minister of the right. Conditions for slaves there are deplorable, but the children must bide their time if they ever want to escape back to their parents. The story is quite a tear-jerker, and undoubtably a crowd pleaser with it's injustices being shown up in the end by the virtues of compassion and mercy. It's quite poignant to say the least (and I'm sure if Charles Dickens were asian and alive in the 1950s, I'm sure he'd say the same thing).

• Robert C

  
  Sure it is a simple "folky" tale...and sure some of acting is a bit over the top at times (looking at you Zushio) but Mizoguchi tells (and shoots) it in a way that you can not help but enjoy.

• Randy T

  
  Orson Welles once said that Kenji Mizoguchi cannot be praised enough. After viewing <i>Sansho the Bailiff</i> I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree.

• Stella D

  
  devastating tale of a nobleman's family sold into slavery in ancient japan. beautifully filmed and full of grief

• Bruce B

  
  Another great movie from early Japan. This is part of the Criterian collection and I can see why. Worth near 5 stars in any collection

• Michael G

  
  Really grim and depressing, but also beautifully done. It'll most likely fall into that "only need to see it once in my entire lifetime" category for me, but I'm still glad I saw it.

• danny d

  
  this film was pretty good. the story was depressing and one thing that the main character does at the end doesnt make a lot of sense, but the film was well acted and the story well told. all i kept thinking through the whole film was "wow, what a terrible way to spend a… More
  this film was pretty good. the story was depressing and one thing that the main character does at the end doesnt make a lot of sense, but the film was well acted and the story well told. all i kept thinking through the whole film was "wow, what a terrible way to spend a life"

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]"Sansho the Bailiff" takes place in 11th century Japan. Lord Taira is sent into exile when he defies his superior by defending his peasants from being unfairly conscripted into the army. Six years later, his wife and children are on their way to join… More
  [font=Century Gothic]"Sansho the Bailiff" takes place in 11th century Japan. Lord Taira is sent into exile when he defies his superior by defending his peasants from being unfairly conscripted into the army. Six years later, his wife and children are on their way to join him when they are kidnapped and sold into slavery.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Sansho the Bailiff" is absolutely heartbreaking. It is also a powerful allegory about the importance of taking a stand for what you believe in and holding onto your humanity even under the worse possible conditions. Simply put, this is exquisite filmmaking of the highest order.[/font]

• Chris B

  
  Sansho the Bailiff is a brutally heart wrenching film about a family torn apart and sold into slavery despite their wealth and family name. The film explores themes of redemption and acceptance as well as kindness and staying true to oneself and morality. Beautifully filmed with… More
  Sansho the Bailiff is a brutally heart wrenching film about a family torn apart and sold into slavery despite their wealth and family name. The film explores themes of redemption and acceptance as well as kindness and staying true to oneself and morality. Beautifully filmed with amazing landscapes shots and plenty of long shots, Sansho the Bailiff is stunning to watch and filled with emotion. It's more a drama and doesn't contain traditonal samurai battles but rather keeps the story and characters the sole focus, and this gives it humanity and helps connect the viewer. Highly Recommended for Japanese film lovers or Classic film fans that want an emotional but utterly hopeful drama.

• Dimitris S

  
  Holy cow,what a true work of art.Stiff,relentless in its grueling painting of the lives controlled by a ruthless leader.Tyranny as a weapon against free speech,not just freedom as a whole.Crime and punishment is how it goes.Where heaven and hell commit a tormenting piano sonata.

• MJS M

  
  Kenji Mizoguchi may not be as widely remembered as the other two big Japanese directors of the time, Kurosawa and Ozu, but he was every bit if not more loved by the international film community in his time as either of them. Ugetsu is probably a little more famous, possibly because… More
  Kenji Mizoguchi may not be as widely remembered as the other two big Japanese directors of the time, Kurosawa and Ozu, but he was every bit if not more loved by the international film community in his time as either of them. Ugetsu is probably a little more famous, possibly because it was more widely available for a while, but this movie is probably Mizoguchi?s magnum opus. Set in pre-feudal Japan (one of the country?s low points), the film tells the heartbreaking story of a family torn apart by a slave ring and sold to the title character. Sansho is one of the most evil bastards on screen, not because of onscreen moustache twirling (though he does sport interesting facial hair), but rather because the film dwells so much on the consequences of his evil actions. This has a lot in common with Grave of the Fireflies as it shows the evils of the world falling on innocent children who need to cope. The film is also very well made, lots of elaborate but subtle long takes.

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