Sansho Dayu - A life without freedom
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Sansho Dayu - A life without freedom |
| Original title | Sanshō Dayū |
| Country of production | Japan |
| original language | Japanese |
| Publishing year | 1954 |
| length | 120 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Kenji Mizoguchi |
| script |
Fuji Yahiro Yoshikata Yoda Ōgai Mori (template) |
| production | Masaichi Nagata |
| music | Fumio Hayasaki |
| camera | Kazuo Miyagawa |
| occupation | |
| |
Sansho Dayu - A life without freedom (Original title: 山椒 大夫 , Sanshō Dayū ) is a Japanese feature film by the director Kenji Mizoguchi from 1954 based on the novel of the same name by Ōgai Mori . The main roles were played by Kinuyo Tanaka , Kyōko Kagawa and Eitarō Shindō . The script was written by Fuji Yahiro and Yoshikata Yoda . In his home country, the film was first released on March 31, 1954. In the Federal Republic of Germany it had its premiere on July 18, 1964 on the first German television (ARD).
action
The film is set in 11th century Japan and is based on an ancient Japanese legend. It's about the young man Zushiō and his beautiful sister Anju, who goes to death for the brother so that the man born to trade can save the disenfranchised.
A feudal system of ruthless cruelty is exploiting the land, enslaving the subjects. The governor Masauji Taira opposes these conditions in his province. He is removed from his post and sentenced to Tsukushi Province . He sends his wife Tamaki with their two children, Zushiō and Anju, back to their father in Echigo . He insists the seven-year-old son as the top priority: "Hardness towards yourself, mercy on others", and hangs the golden statuette of the goddess of mercy, Kannon , around his neck in a silk pouch .
Six years later, Tamaki sets out with the two children and an old servant in order to get to their father in far-away Kyushu through the country terrorized by gangs of robbers and manhunters. Mother and children fall into the hands of slavers. Tamaki is sold in a brothel to the distant island of Sado ; the siblings come under the slaves of the tough and cruel bailiff ( Shōen owner) Sanshō, a special favorite of the Minister of Justice ( Udaijin , actually "Chancellor on the right"). From now on cruelty, filth, fear and hunger are the companions of those who have been so protected until then. Tarō, Sanshō's son, who detests the nature of the father, tries to help them and to soften their lot. One night he leaves the camp for help and never comes back.
Ten years have passed. Zushiō has become hard: "He who follows orders gets more to eat" is his knowledge, and he acts accordingly. His sister Anju, however, remained kind and compassionate towards the suffering of others. When the transport of a dying female slave into the forest gives the defenseless vultures Zushiō the opportunity to get outside the stockade of the slave enclosure, Anju urges her brother to flee with the terminally ill on his back. But she commits suicide so that the torture cannot snatch a treacherous word from her.
Zushiō reaches a Buddhist monastery and finds the lost Tarō as a monk. He tells him about his plan to get the abolition of slavery at the highest level. With a letter of recommendation issued by Tarō, Zushiō penetrates into the gardens of the chief advisor ( Kampaku ) Fujiwara no Morozane in Kyoto. He will be arrested. At the same time the silk pouch is torn from his chest. The consultant, however, recognizes through the golden statuette of the goddess of grace in the stranger the son of the loyal governor Taira, who lived here until his death, revered by all. The son is now appointed governor in his place and rules over the Tango province , in which the Sanshōs estate is located. True to his promise, he immediately begins action against slavery. But he can no longer save his sister; he can only send Sanshō into exile and free his slaves. Desperate, he resigns from his office and starts looking for his mother as a beggar. He finds her, who all her poor life patiently hoped to see her children again, blind, lame, half-mad, as one of the few survivors after a storm surge on the island. What remains for the two who cling to one another is nothing but obedience to the law of mercy.
criticism
"A cinematic work of art of high standing, definitely worth seeing and recommended for ages 18 and over."
"A masterpiece by Mizoguchi, which combines pictorial poetry with powerful representation and is inspired by the conviction that man can only survive through compassion and mercy."
Web links
- Sansho Dayu - A life without freedom in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Short description of the film at theatiner-film.de