Den Skjønne Tiden

An allegory set in an archetypal Czech village, it tells of what happens when a sequence of mysterious events take place, including the disappearance of the stationmaster. While everything has a rational explanation, collective paranoia takes hold and everyone’s worst instincts are released. Interrogations, the abolition of rights and the search for scapegoats ultimately lead to murder

The film takes place during the rule of the eighth shogun Yoshimune, placing the film’s setting somewhere between 1716 and 1745, and focuses on a noble Lord Nabeshima Tango-no-kami (note the name). He rides out one day and sees a parasol on the distance. His friend, the blind Mataichirou, is having tea served by his sister Sayo. Nabeshima joins them and comments on her beauty.

Okatsu: a "tomboy" who is good with a sword. Her father has found her a man to marry and actually she doesn't seem too upset about the situation. At the same time, a bunch of farmers are being slaughtered by a corrupt group running a tobacco smuggling ring. They're being investigated by a man who is documenting their crimes and when they find out about it, they torture him for information but get none. It's not long before he and Okatsu's mother wind up dead and she sets out for revenge.

Koshizu (Fuji), a young geisha, tries to kill herself but is saved by cook Yukichi (Sugahara). Rival geisha Adakichi (Yumi), greedy trader Yasukawa (Abe) and wealthy businessman Asai (Soganoya) add up to dramatic turns.

An aging truck driver finds smuggled money and becomes involved with a hijacking crowd.

In WW2 Manchuria, a prostitute grows to resent an abusive adjutant and falls in love with his aide.