Okoto and Sasuke

The first film adaptation of Tanizaki Junichiro's 1933 novella, which was subsequently adapted five more times. Set in a merchant's house in Osaka during the Meiji period, this is a tale of supreme love between an affluent blind woman named Okoto and her devoted servant Sasuke. Musically gifted Okoto teaches the koto and shamisen and is very proud and cold-hearted towards men, but Sasuke refuses to give up hope that she will come to love him. Its skilful direction utilizes koto and shamisen music and the house's architecture to effectively evoke human relationships, and the palpably tense climax is wonderful. (Shochiku)