Direction: Kon Ichikawa

The best movies, series, and documentaries directed by Kon Ichikawa. Explore exceptional titles that showcase a unique filmmaking vision.


The Burmese Harp

1956 · Movie · 116 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Shoji Yasui · Jun Hamamura · Taketoshi Naitô

Synopsis The Burmese Harp (1956) unfolds in July 1945, as Japan's army retreats. A platoon in Burma lifts their spirits through song, inspired by their self-taught lute player, Mizushima. Post-war, while awaiting repatriation at Mudon prison camp, Mizushima is tasked with...

7.6

1K votes

7.6

1K votes

Nobi (Fires on the Plain)

1959 · Movie · 108 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Eiji Funakoshi · Osamu Takizawa · Mickey Curtis · Mantarô Ushio

Synopsis Nobi (Fires on the Plain) (1959) is set in the Philippines during the year 1945, amidst the chaos of World War II. The once-mighty Japanese Imperial Army has been decimated and is now a disorganized group of soldiers hiding in...

7.5

618 votes

7.5

618 votes

7.2

73 votes

The Heart

1955 · Movie · 120 min. · Japan

7.0

51 votes

7.0

51 votes

Tokyo Olympiad

1965 · Documentary · 170 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Abebe Bikila

Synopsis Tokyo Olympiad (1965) is a cinematic journey through the 1964 Summer Olympics, capturing the essence of the games from the opening to the closing ceremonies. The documentary masterfully shifts focus between the enthusiastic spectators, the determined athletes, and the intense...

Max

7.0

153 votes

7.0

153 votes

The Outcast

1962 · Movie · 119 min. · Japan

6.8

33 votes

6.8

33 votes

Her Brother

1960 · Movie · 98 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Keiko Kishi · Hiroshi Kawaguchi · Kinuyo Tanaka · Masayuki Mori

Synopsis Her Brother (1960) is a poignant Japanese drama directed by Kon Ichikawa, released in 1960. This cinematic work was showcased at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered a Special Distinction award. The film's impact was so profound that...

6.8

31 votes

6.8

31 votes

Punishment Room

1956 · Movie · 96 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Hiroshi Kawaguchi · Keizo Kawasaki · Ayako Wakao · Yosuke Irie

Synopsis Punishment Room (1956) follows the story of Katsumi, a university student who exhibits a profound lack of respect for his diligent parents, his educators, and even his peers. Following a night of revelry, Katsumi commits a heinous act by drugging...

6.7

24 votes

6.7

24 votes

Alone Across the Pacific

1963 · Movie · 97 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Yujiro Ishihara · Masayuki Mori · Kinuyo Tanaka · Ruriko Asaoka

Synopsis Alone Across the Pacific (1963) is a cinematic tribute to the indomitable human spirit, directed by the esteemed Japanese filmmaker Kon Ichikawa, known for works such as "An Actor’s Revenge," "The Burmese Harp," and "Tokyo Olympiad." The film chronicles the...

6.6

48 votes

6.6

48 votes

Odd Obsession

1959 · Movie · 109 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Machiko Kyô · Ganjiro Nakamura · Tatsuya Nakadai · Junko Kano

Synopsis Odd Obsession (1959) follows the journey of an aging man who embarks on a quest to revitalize his waning vitality. Driven by a desire to rekindle his youthful vigor, he explores various methods and encounters a series of challenges and...

6.6

87 votes

6.6

87 votes

The Makioka Sisters

1983 · Movie · 140 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Keiko Kishi · Yoshiko Sakuma · Sayuri Yoshinaga · Yûko Kotegawa

Synopsis The Makioka Sisters (1983) presents a visually stunning narrative that follows the annual reunion of four sisters in Kyoto, where they gather to appreciate the cherry blossoms. The film offers a rich depiction of the pre-war lifestyle of the affluent...

6.6

41 votes

6.6

41 votes

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Raizô Ichikawa · Tatsuya Nakadai · Ganjiro Nakamura · Yoichi Funaki

Synopsis The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Enjo) (1958) unfolds through a complex narrative structure of flashbacks, delving into the mental deterioration of Goichi (Raizo Ichikawa), a young Buddhist novice from a troubled family who journeys to a Kyoto temple, the...

6.6

78 votes

6.6

78 votes

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Kazuo Hasegawa · Fujiko Yamamoto · Ayako Wakao · Eiji Funakoshi

Synopsis An Actor's Revenge (Yukinojo's Revenge) (1963) is set in 1836 Tokugawa Japan, where a skilled Kabuki performer, Yukinojo, portrayed by Kazuo Hasegawa, arrives in Edo with his theater company. Yukinojo, known for his exceptional portrayal of female roles, meticulously orchestrates...

6.6

196 votes

6.6

196 votes

Visions of Eight

1973 · Documentary · 110 min. · United States

Direction Jim Clark · Milos Forman · Kon Ichikawa · Claude Lelouch

Synopsis Visions of Eight (1973) is a unique documentary that captures the essence of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich through the lenses of eight renowned film directors. The directors involved are Milos Forman, Yuri Ozerov, Mai Zetterling, Arthur Penn, Michael...

6.3

22 votes

6.3

22 votes

I Am a Cat

1975 · Movie · 116 min. · Japan

6.3

30 votes

6.3

30 votes

The Inugami Family

1976 · Movie · 146 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Koji Ishizaka · Yôko Shimada · Teruhiko Aoi · Mieko Takamine

Synopsis The Inugami Family (1976) centers around a mysterious will left behind by a wealthy individual, which exposes a complex web of unusual relationships. This revelation sets off a chain of events leading to four deaths and multiple attempted murders, as...

6.3

36 votes

6.3

36 votes

Fusa

1993 · Movie · 92 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Yûko Asano · Kiichi Nakai · Hisashi Igawa · Koji Ishizaka

Synopsis Fusa (1993) unfolds in the tumultuous 16th century, where a driven young samurai secures his place in a prestigious noble household through adoption. This strategic move grants him the social standing required to wed the castle warden's daughter. However, the...

6.2

34 votes

6.2

34 votes

Princess from the Moon

1987 · Movie · 121 min. · Japan

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Ayako Wakao · Yasuko Sawaguchi · Koji Ishizaka

Synopsis Princess from the Moon (1987) is a captivating film inspired by an ancient Japanese folktale. The story unfolds with a rural couple who stumble upon an infant girl nestled within a bamboo grove and decide to nurture her as their...

5.2

44 votes

5.2

44 votes