The Song Lantern (1943)

A self-absorbed young actor humiliates an elderly Noh performer, who then commits suicide. His act of cruelty compels his father to disown him, leading the once promising actor to a life on the streets. But his desire to win back the respect of his father and the affection of the dead actor's daughter pushes him toward a more noble existence. Naruse employed a delicately structured mise-en-scene in this family melodrama, which evokes the work of Josef von Sternberg.

• Release Date: 1943-02-11
• Runtime: 1h 33min
• Production Company: Toho Eiga
• Production Country: Japan
• Director: Mikio Naruse
• Writer: Mantarō Kubota