This week, we discuss two classic Japanese films from the 1950s.

The first is Tokyo Story (1953), a drama directed by Yasujirō Ozu, about an aging couple who travel to Tokyo to visit their adult children. Tokyo Story is widely regarded as Ozu's masterpiece and one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. It was voted the 3rd greatest film of all time in the 2012 edition of a poll of film directors by Sight and Sound magazine.

The second is Sansho the Bailiff (1954), a period film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. It follows two aristocratic children who are sold into slavery. Sansho the Bailiff bears many of Mizoguchi's hallmarks, such as portrayals of poverty and elaborately choreographed long takes. Today, the film is often ranked alongside Ugetsu (1953) as one of Mizoguchi's finest works.

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