Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu

"In the end, we had no choice but to have it this way. We just took a roundabout path."

Dec 1 1967 Not Rated 2h 8m
Drama

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.

Plot

During peace in 1725, aging swordsman Isaburo is living a henpecked life when his clan lord requests that Isaburo's son marry the lord's mistress, with whom he's displeased, even though she's born him a son. Isaburo wants to refuse, but his son Yogoro accepts the woman, Ichi, and they fall deeply in love. Their love renews Isaburo, so when the clan lord's elder son dies and the lord sends for Ichi to return to his side as mother of his heir, Isaburo opposes his lord. Yogoro and Ichi, who now have a baby daughter, stand with him. The clan orders their suicide, then sends soldiers to kill them. Isaburo's only hope is to take his case to Edo to expose the clan's cruelty. Can he?

Written by

Shinobu Hashimoto, Yasuhiko Takiguchi

Directed by

Masaki Kobayashi

Production Countries

Japan

Production Companies

Mifune Productions, Toho

Languages

Awards

7 wins & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
14,752
Average Rating
8.3 out of 10
Metascore
90
Popularity
NA