Kwaidan

Synopsis:
This film contains four distinct, separate stories. "Black Hair": In ancient Kyoto, a samurai decides to leave his poor but beloved wife and become rich marrying a wealthy wife. He misses his loved wife, and years later, when he returns to her, he finds a surprise waiting for him. "The Woman in the Snow": And old and a young woodman are surprised by a snow storm, and the younger is saved by the spirit of a snow woman. He promises never telling what happened with him. Years later, he breaks his promise, telling the secret to his wife."Hoichi the Earless": Hoichi is a blind musician, living in a monastery who sings so well that a ghostly imperial court commands him to perform the epic ballad of their death battle for them. But the ghosts are draining away his life, and the monks set out to protect him by writing a holy mantra over his body to make him invisible to the ghosts. But they've forgotten something. "In a Cup of Tea": a samurai drinks water in a cup of tea, and he sees the soul of a former samurai. Later, he is haunted by the spirit.

Trailer

Nominations:
Best Foreign Language Film, 1966 Academy Awards, USA
Golden Palm, 1965 Cannes Film Festival

Awards:
Jury Special Prize, 1965 Cannes Film Festival
Best Screenplay, 1965 Kinema Junpo Awards
Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, 1966 Mainichi Film Concours