A Kindai Eiga Kyokai Production
THE HOLE
DEEP AND DARK
SINCE ANCIENT TIMES ITS DARKNESS HAS LASTED.
ONIBABA
Executive Producer KAZUO KUWAHARA
Screenplay by KANETO SHINDO
Photography by KIYOMI KURODA
Music by HIKARU HAYASHI
Sound Recording by TETSUYA OHASHI
Film Editor KAZUO ENOKI
Cast
NOBUKO OTOWA
JITSUKO YOSHIMURA
KEI SATO
JUKICHI UNO
TAIJI TONOYAMA
SENSHO MATSUMOTO
KENTARO KAJI
HOSUI ARAYA
Directed by KANETO SHINDO
Ushi, are you there?
Yes.
Get something?
Nothing but junk.
This is the best you can get?
Burned Kyoto.
The Emperor's escaped to Mt.Yoshino.
No more big battles.
Just skirmishes now.
Can't do any business.
Good millet!
One more.
Take it or leave it.
Want one more?
Sleep with me?
Who'd want you?
Hachi! You're back?
I'm hungry.
Give me some food.
Get him a bowl!
A wonder you got back!
My husband?
Wait.
You came back alone?
I escaped!
Where's my son?
It was the Ashikaga army that made us go with them.
We fought twice.
The 3rd time, we got caught by the Kusunoki army.
My son too?
Yes, both of us.
So we became Kusunoki men.
All the same to us.
Not our war.
We didn't care who won.
There are two Emperors now.
Kusunoki fights for the Emperor at Mt.Yoshino...
Ashikaga for the Kyoto Emperor.
It means the two Emperors are quarreling.
At first we wanted to be heroes, but killing's not easy.
Might get killed myself.
Once I stabbed a man in the back with a spear.
He was in some bushes and I killed him.
My son?
It was 3 days ago...
The Kusunoki Army was beaten flat at Minatogawa.
Wiped right out by the Ashikaga men.
It was a mess.
Couldn't tell friend from foe...
2 days and 2 nights.
We tried to stick to the safest places.
The General ordered us to advance.
But we ran around till they chased us into a paddy field.
Nothing to do but play dead in the mud.
We fooled them.
Watching our chance, we ran into the mountains.
Hid in the bushes all night, thought we'd starve.
We went to hunt for food.
Thought we'd steal from farm houses, but they were empty.
No food.
Soon, farmers with sticks came from somewhere and beat us up!
Beat Kichi to death!
I barely escaped alive!
My son was killed?
And then?
The samurai who took you?
Killed right afterwards.
An arrow right through his throat.
Here.
Served him right!
Had it coming to him.
They took my son so sudden, we had a hard time.
I was looking forward to the day he'd return.
Only you came back.
It's a wonder you're still alive.
How do you eat?
Frost in summer last year.
Hail fell.
Frost in summer, mind you!
The crops all failed.
Strange things going on in Kyoto too.
A horse bore a calf.
Like the earth was turned upside down!
All the farmers are starving.
Always fighting. Can't work.
The fields run wild with no men.
How do you eat?
Never you mind! We're beggars!
Kyoto's burnt down!
Not even a dog.
Everything becomes food...
Snakes, even earthworms, mice.
Wearing nice things.
Steal them?
You look funny yourself.
I killed a priest on the way and put it on.
People trust a priest.
Easier to get around in.
What'll you do now?
Is my hut left?
I suppose so.
I see.
I'll go get some good sleep.
I'm very sleepy.
I'm sorry I came back alone.
What is it?
It's sad!
A fine day.
Makes war seem far away.
Big fish you caught.
Nothing to eat.
What do you eat?
Don't seem to grow anything.
What do you do?
You steal?
I see.
That's it?
They all do where there's fighting.
They all steal in Kyoto.
You steal too?
Right?
Why didn't you save my husband?
No time to!
About 20 farmers attacked us!
All I could do to get away myself!
Waited for him?
Poor girl.
What'll you do?
He's dead. No use staying with the old woman.
Mind your tongue!
You're young yet.
How about coming to see me?
Want to?
A nice day.
Hachi, what're you doing there?
Catching fish.
Got to eat.
You eat it.
Take what's offered.
It looks good.
What did he say?
Nothing.
He's no good. Not even sorry he's back alone.
He may've killed my son!
Like an enemy. Don't be too friendly!
Help!
Get the one floating away!
He's alive!
We can eat now!
Expensive stuff!
How about it? A good buy?
This all?
Farmers are in the mountains.
Had a hard time finding this much.
Risky work!
Sake!
You were lucky.
A wonder you're back.
Good business you have.
Only while the war lasts.
Don't know how much longer.
A long time yet.
Until one side's beaten.
Even if it ruins the country.
It's a business with them.
Birds too.
Bring good stuff.
Ushi's got himself a good business.
Camps will snap up swords, halberds, and armors.
Not enough to go around.
None for common soldiers.
They use wooden or bamboo spears.
A good business.
You two do a neat job?
How many did you kill?
We're us!
Stay out of it!
Hadn't you better let me join you?
I'm war-trained.
I'll be handy.
We're us!
We can manage.
Hate me for returning alone?
You're you.
Go it alone.
Make me her husband?
Idiot!
Don't be stupid!
We're turning in!
You go home!
The no-good!
He's after you.
His eyes! Like a dog after a bitch!
Sniffing after you.
Stay away from him!
That one!
Wants a woman!
I want a woman.
Come over.
Be waiting tonight.
Hachi's after you.
Don't get caught.
Who is it?
It's you.
You came?
Hachi!
Hurry! Hurry!
I get scared running through the reeds.
Silly.
You make your living by killing people.
Lazy no-good.
Enjoying his nap.
Hachi!
What? Only you, is it?
Like sleeping?
Nice to nap.
It's too hot.
Best to sleep in the daytime.
Sleep with me?
An old woman like you?
Stupid!
I'm not old inside.
Come on.
Try me.
I'll go and take a swim.
Wait!
What is it?
Something nice?
Don't act so innocent!
What're you doing with my daughter-in-law?
What's that?
I'll slap you!
I saw you!
What'll you do?
She came to my place.
You asked her.
Why not?
I'm a strong man. I can't stand it!
Another man's wife!
Your son's dead.
You no-good, coming back alone!
Taking your friend's wife?
He's dead. She needs a man.
And no wonder.
She's young. It's natural.
Not if you leave!
Go away!
If I do, I'd be taken to war again.
I'll stay here.
Then leave her alone!
I've an offer.
Let her be my bride.
You've got your nerve!
My poor son!
Can't ask a young man and woman not to be friends if they're neighbors.
If my son's dead, she's all I've got!
I couldn't get along.
Couldn't even kill!
Take her and I'd starve!
Don't worry.
I won't. Just friends.
In the end, she'll desert me!
I'll tell her not to.
Hachi, I'm asking you!
I can't kill without her!
You ask too much.
Your son's gone-it's selfish to hold her!
When the war ends, I can farm and manage. Till then.
No telling when it'll end.
If you just want a woman, I'd do. How about me?
I don't feel like it.
You intend to take her?
Don't you know?
I won't! Just friends!
You think so, but she'll leave me!
I can't help that!
Remember that!
What'll you do?
I'll spear you asleep together.
She'll die too then.
Old bag!
Where to?
I can't sleep. I thought I'd get some fresh air.
Yes, it's hard to sleep tonight.
No wind at all.
No.
Dreamed Kiohi returned.
My son may come back.
Haohi saw him die. He won't return.
Hachi's a bad man. He may've lied.
He wouldn't lie!
If Kichi's alive, he'd return.
No use lying!
Aren't you sad my son died?
I am, but he won't come back.
I'll find you a good husband.
Be patient.
When the war ends, men will come baok.
Let's farm again then like we used to.
Fighting!
More good game will come our way!
I'll help you.
A wild dog?
Not much spirit for a wild dog.
It's after a mate.
You pest.
We'll skin you and eat you!
It's a terrible thing!
Once in Kyoto, I heard a great priest talk.
People, who sin in this world, go to Purgatory when they die.
What's Purgatory?
The dead are just ashes.
No, no, that's not so.
There are really hells, they say.
Hell of fire, hell of fury, sinners' hell...
And the terrible mountain of needles and the pond of blood.
The punishment for sinful love is the heaviest.
Souls with human faces grow four legs.
And fall into sinners' hell.
Then they're tortured with red hot irons.
A lie! There's no hell!
There must be hells. A great priest said so.
It's no sin what we do.
Everyone does it.
With a couple, it's all right.
With couples...
It's quite all right.
It's a terrible thing.
Merciful Buddha, Merciful Buddha...
Let's go to bed.
Calm yourself!
I'm a human being, not a demon.
I've reasons for wearing a mask.
I'm a samurai of good family.
As you see, I escaped from the battle.
I became separated from my men.
I hope to return to Kyoto but I'm lost in this field of pampas grass.
Tell me the road to Kyoto.
Go straight north and you'll get there!
Show me the way out of the grass.
You'll kill me after I take you?
What good is there in killing the likes of you?
Go alone!
Old woman!
You refuse?
I'll go!
I'll take you!
I missed you... I missed you so.
That old woman!
If we sin, do we go to Purgatory?
Sin?
People been doing this thousands of years.
I'd go to Purgatory with you!
A vast field of grass.
Can't tell what lives here-demons or snakes.
And monsters like you stray in.
I'm a demon.
Why do you wear a mask?
I look stronger with it on, don't l?
You lost, you're running from the war?
So it's useless to try to look strong.
You're right. Many of my men were killed and many others left me.
I was left alone.
Punished for beginning a war!
Old woman...
Would you like to know why I wear a mask?
I feared marring my face.
My face is beautiful.
The handsomest face in Kyoto.
To protect it, I wore this mask and went into the thick of battle.
As a reward for taking you, show me your beautiful face.
You'd feel faint if you saw my beautiful face.
I've never seen anythig really beautiful since I was born.
Show me your face.
You wish me to so badly.
Show me.
A face you'd fall in love with?
I've never seen anyone so beautiful it would take my breath away!
Walk on, old woman!
It's not a face to show peasants!
Walk faster!
Or I will kill you!
You made many soldiers die?
A cruel thing.
The dead are the losers.
The dead can't come back to life again.
Don't talk! Walk!
Serves you right!
Men like you killed my son!
How beautiful are you?
The most beautiful face?
This is a samurai general's face?
Peace be with you here.
You have friends here.
You made others die. Now, it's your turn.
Heavy?
No, not very.
Shall I go along?
No, I'll go by myself.
But it'll be night when you return.
If it's dark, it can't grow darker.
I'll be late. Eat early and go to bed.
Be careful.
What's the matter?
You'll catch cold going to sleep there.
What is it?
Are you sick?
Your face is pale.
Anything wrong?
What's she doing anyway?
Are there really demons?
Well...
In hell, I guess.
They're here too!
Did you see one?
No, I didn't.
We've done nothing bad. A demon couldn't take us.
Might take a bad person though.
Shall we eat?
Shall I go to Ushi's place?
Too hot in the daytime.
Night's the best time to go out.
Ushi's a sly one. If I take too many at once, he knocks down the price.
Better to take a few at a time.
We make more that way.
I'll be on my way.
Be oareful.
What's the matter?
A dream?
What kind of dream?
You woke me up.
Say.
Standing me up.
What's up?
Tired of me?
It's raining. Don't go.
Can't let Ushi fool me.
Said he didn't have the millet on hand and to pick it up tonight.
Just a shower, so it'll stop.
It'll become nice and cool.
I'll be on my way.
Say!
Hachi!
A demon!
Demon?
Silly! No such thing!
A demon!
There can't be.
You imagined it.
There is.
I saw it.
A fox or a badger maybe.
Even weasels fool people.
My head's clear again!
I wish we could live together.
I told you so!
Come to my place.
Ouch.
A bug-in my back!
Set yourself free!
I can't.
I may be punished.
For what?
Buddha's punishment!
There's no Buddha!
I'll come for you from tomorrow.
Wait!
It's me!
I'm not a demon!
It's me. It's me!
You're...!
It's me!
I'm your mother!
Then that demon every night...?
Yes!
It was me!
I was wrong! Forgive me!
I wore the mask to scare you.
I'm being punished for it!
The mask won't come off!
Why won't it? Why won't it?
It got wet in the rain and won't come off!
Take it off!
Why won't it come off? Why won't it?
Look at you!
It's punishment!
Please take it off! Take it off!
Please...
I didn't sin!
This proves it!
Old meddler!
This proves it!
I was wrong!
I was wrong to meddle!
Take it off!
You became a demon!
Stay that way!
Please take it off for me! I'm asking you! I'm asking you!
All right, but will you do everything I say?
I will!
I will! I will!
Exactly as I say?
Yes! Yes!
Yes, I will!
Can I see Hachi every night?
Yes!
Daytime too?
Yes!
You won't complain about us?
I won't!
Day and night!
You can!
Sure?
I'm sure!
All right, I'll take it off.
It hurts! It hurts!
What's happened?
Hurry, take it off!
Bear it even if it hurts!
It hurts! It hurts!
The rain did it!
It hurts!
It's punishment!
It hurts so...
It hurts.
It's that samurai's curse!
What?
Understand? Put up with it!
I'm dying. I'm dying.
It came off. It came off.
It came off. The mask came off.
Demon!
I'm grateful. That was good of you.
What is it?
Wait!
I'm not a demon! I'm a human being!
Wait!
I'm a human being!