Film Screening: Sansho the Bailiff (Kenji Mizoguchi, Japan, 1954)

One of Mizoguchi’s finest films, Sansho the Bailiff takes place in feudal Japan and tracks the life paths of a brother and sister who take different lessons from their difficult childhoods as they try to overcome the injustices of feudal society.  Famous for his long shots and complex storylines, Mizoguchi depicts sacrifice, family, and reconciliation with heartbreaking honesty.