Kwaidan
7.7/10
Rating
183 min
Runtime
1965
Release Year
Masaki Kobayashi
Director
Cast
Michiyo Aratama, Rentaro Mikuni, Misako Watanabe, Kenjirō Ishiyama, Ranko Akagi
Quick Synopsis
Kwaidan, named after an old Japanese term for "ghost story," is a film that presents four separate folk tales. In the first story, a poor samurai marries a wealthy woman, but their union leads to tragedy. The second tale follows a man caught in a blizzard who is rescued by Yuki, the Snow Maiden, though this help comes with unforeseen consequences. The third story centers on Hoichi, a blind musician compelled to perform for a group of ghosts. The final narrative features an author recounting the experience of a samurai who notices another warrior's reflection in his teacup.
Detailed Synopsis of Kwaidan
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.
