Gate of Hell

With the flavor of legend and the impact of a superb canvas, Gate of Hell is something to be seen and enjoyed by the escapist and the connoisseur alike.

It is hard to convey in simple language the moving qualities of this lovely film, which, among other things, was the winner of the grand prize at the Cannes film festival last spring.

The film's delicately choreographed battles, its use of texture and color, and its grace of movement and composition mark it as one of those rare Japanese films that survive despite overinterpretation.

On one hand, the reception of Gate of Hell was, indeed, the result of the short-term japonisme that affected world cinema stakeholders. On the other hand, it was a sumptuous reply to the angst and intricate storytelling as admired in Rashomon (1950)