Kenji Mizoguchi’s period piece (Heian period of feudal Japan,) based on a short story of the same name by Mori Ogai, tells the tale of the falling from grace of an aristocratic family after the father, a virtuous governor, is exiled by a feudal lord for disobeying orders. Shortly after, his own children are sold into slavery and his wife is made into a prostitute. The film is done in the tradition of the Japanese films of the time which is to say, heavy on drama. It is considered one of Mizoguchi's best films featuring topics such as human rights and poverty. Whether such topics would be championed by an aristocrat at the time the film depicts I find it difficult to believe. Still, if you have a taste for Japanese movies of the 50’s, it is a strong film who takes no mercy in driving its subject matter home.