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Kwaidan

Director: Masaki Kobayashi Run Time: 161 min. Format: 35mm Rating: NR Release Year: 1964 Language: Japanese with English subtitles

Starring: RentarĂ´ Mikuni, Keiko Kishi, Katsuo Nakamura, Osamu Takizawa

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning “ghost story,” this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai (RentarĂ´ Mikuni) marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden (Keiko Kishi), but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi (Katsuo Nakamura) is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author (Osamu Takizawa) relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior’s reflection in his teacup.

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