Director: Kinugasa Teinosuke
Screenplay: Kinugasa Teinosuke, based upon Kikuchi Kan's novel
Cinematographer: Sugiyama Kohei
Editing: Nishida Shigeo
Sound: Kaihara Yukio
Art Director: Ito Kisaku
Music: Akutagawa Yasushi
Cast.: Hasegawa Kazuo, Kyo Machiko, Yamagata Isao, Kurosawa Yataro
Production: Daiei Films
Distribution:
Films sans Frontières
70 Bd de Sebastopol
75003 Paris
Tel: 0033-1.42.77.01.24
Fax: 0033-1.42.77.42.66
Mail: [email protected]
www.films-sans-frontieres.fr
Year: 1953
Screening: 2019, 2014
DCP, Color, 88 min,
OV Japanese with French subtitles
Grand Prix - Cannes Film Festival 1954
1955 Academy Honorary Award for "Best Foreign Language Film first released in the United States during 1954", along with the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color, and the 1954 New York Film Critics Circle Award for "Best Foreign Language Film".
Part of Japonism 2018
In 1159 when civil wars are raging, the emperor asks samurai Morito to cross the country in order to distract the rebels’ attention. During a revolt fomented by an enemy clan, young servant Kesa takes the place of the imperial princess to save her. Her life is spared thanks to valorous samurai Morito who passionately falls in love with her. But Kesa belongs to another man. Determined to kill his rival, Morito tells Kesa his murder plans and asks her to run away with him…
Based on a true story which took place in the 12th century, Gate of Hell is the first Japanese film shot in color and the adaptation of a play by famous Japanese writer Kan Kikuchi. The film largely contributed to launch the discovery of Japanese cinema in the West. This was proved by the Grand Prize award (former name of Gold Palm) at Cannes festival in 1954 and 2 Oscar Prizes (best Foreign Film and Best Costumes) in 1955.
