Sisters of the Gion

1936 1h 9m JA

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 86

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A geisha in the Gion district of Kyoto feels obliged to help her lover when he asks to stay with her after going bankrupt and leaving his wife. However, her younger sister opposes this, thinking that they should both find wealthy patrons to support them.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Isuzu Yamada
O-mocha
Yōko Umemura
Umekichi
Benkei Shiganoya
Shimbei Furusawa
Eitarō Shindō
Kudo
Taizō Fukami
Kimura
Shizuko Takizawa
Ochiyo
Namiko Kawashima
Oemi Furusawa
Fumio Okura
Jurakudo

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Writers: Yoshikata Yoda, Kenji Mizoguchi
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 69-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

90 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, shot by Shigeto Miki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tazuko Sakane shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Isuzu Yamada and Yōko Umemura and Benkei Shiganoya carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0027672 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 86 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kenji Mizoguchi directs. Shigeto Miki behind the camera. Tazuko Sakane cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 69-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
290 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, shot by Shigeto Miki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Tazuko Sakane shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Isuzu Yamada and Yōko Umemura and Benkei Shiganoya carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0027672 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 86 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.