Onibaba
鬼婆
Japan • 1964
Director
#226Criterion Collection →Synopsis
While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi. The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.
Synopsis
While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi. The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.
Criterion Closet Picks
(5)
Credits
Crew
DirectorKaneto Shindō
WriterKaneto Shindō
CinematographerKiyomi Kuroda
ComposerHikaru Hayashi
EditorToshio Enoki
ProducerTamotsu Minato, Hisao Itoya, Setsuo Noto
