Gate of Hell

This 1953 Japanese classic is a banquet of visual delights, a tapestry of vibrant colour, which regrettably becomes frayed at the edges. Morito is a mid-ranking Samurai whose bravery is honoured with a gift from the Emperor. After choosing the hand of a nobleman’s wife he is subsequently refused his prize, leading to fermenting desire and a deadly, escalating rivalry, each man desperate to possess her.

Whether this is a cautionary parable for those who dare to challenge social status, or ultimately a dark meditation on the destructive power of obsession is unclear. The principal trio are equally unsympathetic, displaying either effete servility or vile greed and aggression, leaving us with nobody to root for. Often the constructs of honour and protocol make for delicious drama, but here prove simply frustrating. However, this remains an epic feature and well worth your attention, even more so for those aesthetes who will devour its breathtaking, and still unequalled palette. [Alan Bett]