Final Paper. Sansho the Bailiff film Literature & Language Essay

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Sansho the Bailiff film
From the antiquity, an array of historians have acknowledged the humanistic ideals portrayed in Sansho the Bailiff film, a masterpiece from Kenji Maguchi in the medieval setting. The film is based on ancient slavery in Japan. Notably, Mizoguchi, the film director, integrates distinct Japanese methods in establishing the film's aesthetic, styles, and themes. The film was released in the post-World War II era. Therefore, historical parallels are infused in Sanso the Bailiff to reflect the social, political, and economic landscape of Japan.
Furthermore, Mizoguchi used the historical framework to explore the subjugation and oppression of the common people to address contemporary realities. This essay seeks to discuss the Sansho the Bailiff film by Kenji Mizoguchi based on the political, social, and economic landscape of Japan. Besides, the essay comprehensively explores the themes and styles incorporated in Sansho the Bailiff rudimentary to the historical context of Japan.
I selected this movie since it is a classic Japanese story with astounding direction by Mizoguchi. As such, it is a great masterpiece that incorporates human, empathetic expression, as well as resilience in the face of atrocities. Additionally, the acting was amazing reflecting on the realities of the human condition in the antiquity. The movie's distilled poignancy and grandeur are electrifying and bring out powerful historical moments. Furthermore, the film reflects equality and the right to happiness in an era firmly entrenched in sharp class distinction and militarism. Sansho the Bailiff has a musically inclined structure that makes it thrilling building the traditional melodramatic progression. Remarkably, the film won the Venice Film Awards in 1954.
Sansho the Bailiff is a historical film during feudal Japan's Heian period. With a setting like this, it reflects classical Japanese history in the reign of powerful aristocratic family and emperors. It incorporates the lineaments of facing and expiating wartime history of Japan. Moreover, the theme of cruelty and atrocities of a medieval slave in concentration camps are widely depicted in Mizoguchi’s work. In essence, the film has unmistakable thematic resonance and powerfully rebukes tyranny. As such, it describes how empathy can overcome forces of oppression and hatred, as well as trying to remain humane and descent in an in-hospital society. This would also mean that transcendence and tragedy are present in the film and their correlation produces overwhelmingly moving final scenes.
In the film, a feudal lord banishes and exiles a virtuous governor who tries to protect human rights in amidst a merciless bureaucracy. As such, the governor is punished for being merciful. Thus, this portrays the unjustness of the political system. Subsequently, the governor’s wife, Tamaki, and children, Anju and Zushio set out to the exiled land to find the governor. However, on their journey, they are tricked by a priestess and subjected to the slave trade. This establishes a theme of betrayal. In this context, Tamaki is sold into prostitution while the children into manorial estate where they work under poor conditions and are brutalized. Sansho, a ...