It's evident from the beautiful title sequence that Kwaidan vows to be much more than ordinary cinema. The film is comprised of four individual stories that share a common theme – a mesmerizing world where the living have apparitional experiences. The tales are derived from Japanese folklore and explore the battles between the internal soul and the outer spirit world. In each tale these two forces are uniquely brought together, producing a film that probes human existence.
Kwaidan is a remarkable film whose trance like imagery is both poetic and captivating. This film may very well have the best set designs ever created – they're truly spectacular. The brilliant use of colors, lighting, and sound are mixed seamlessly within each storyline. Director Masaki Kobayashi amazingly manages to use a tranquil narrative, yet at the same time inject intensity into each sequence. This treasure of world cinema should be experienced by all.
Kwaidan is a remarkable film whose trance like imagery is both poetic and captivating. This film may very well have the best set designs ever created – they're truly spectacular. The brilliant use of colors, lighting, and sound are mixed seamlessly within each storyline. Director Masaki Kobayashi amazingly manages to use a tranquil narrative, yet at the same time inject intensity into each sequence. This treasure of world cinema should be experienced by all.