House of Flame (S)
1979·Japan·19 min.
Available on
None platform
Through puppets and animation, a traveler tells his story of walking through Settsu, coming to the town of Ikuta. He asks if someone can show him the Seeker's Mound. Late that day, a solitary maiden says she will lead him there. She tells him the story of Unai-otome, a pure maid who lived 500 years ago and had two suitors, a poet and a warrior. She cannot choose, the suitors strive, grief and death follow. The maid asks the traveler's help. He prays during the night and in the morning, a truth is revealed to him.
DirectorKihachirô Kawamoto
ScreenwriterKihachirô Kawamoto
MusicTôru Takemitsu
CinematographyMinoru Tamura
Original titleKataku (House of Flame) (S)