Episode 383: SANSHO THE BAILIFF (1954)

Episode 383: SANSHO THE BAILIFF (1954)

From Trylove by Trylove

May 19, 2026 · 1h 50m

About this episode

The episode discusses Kenji Mizoguchi's film SANSHO THE BAILIFF, exploring its themes of family, adversity, and the human spirit.

Help the Trylon afford a 4K projector! https://trylon.org/4K A governor in 11th century Japan is exiled, and his wife (Kinuyo Tanaka) and two children are sold into slavery. And it only gets crazier from there! The young boy (Yoshiaki Hanayagi) and girl (Kyōko Kagawa) come of age in the service of the local administrator Sanshō (Eitarō Shindō). Disgraced, each member of the shattered family survives unending cruelty with only the belief that good will triumph over evil. Which, as this episode proves, isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Kenji Mizoguchi’s SANSHO THE BAILIFF is recognized as one of the greatest films of all time, a heartrending narrative of the indomitable human spirit in the face of systemic adversity. It’s kind of like Superman. Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and…

People in this episode

Host: Trylove

Topics covered

  • Japanese cinema
  • family drama
  • systemic adversity
  • human spirit
  • film analysis

Keywords

  • SANSHO THE BAILIFF
  • Kenji Mizoguchi
  • Japanese film
  • family
  • adversity
  • human spirit
  • 1954

Sponsors

Trylon

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ICE, Minnesota, ISAIAH, Mutual aid group, North Minneapolis families

Books & works: SANSHO THE BAILIFF

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