Special Series

Okoto and Sasuke

春琴抄－お琴と佐助

Directed by: Yasujiro Shimazu
1935 / 110 minutes / Under 15s must be accompanied by an adult

Based on the novel "A Portrait of Shunkin" by Junichiro Tanizaki

Screened as part of JFF Classics 2018.

Love develops between Okoto, a blind koto virtuoso, and her devoted manservant, Sasuke. There is nothing Sasuke will not do for Okoto, even if it means leaping into darkness himself.

Based on Junichiro Tanizaki’s novel, A Portrait of Shunkin, Yasujiro Shimazu takes a subtle and restrained approach to directing an otherwise melodramatic romance. Shimazu also pairs the film with a beautiful koto soundtrack, matching the action on screen with the background music. Playing Okoto is Kinuyo Tanaka, the prolific star of Japanese cinema’s golden age, in one of her most assertive early performances.