Synopsis

Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, Kwaidan features four nightmarish tales adapted from Lafcadio Hearn’s classic Japanese ghost stories about mortals caught up in forces beyond their comprehension when the supernatural world intervenes in their lives: “The Black Hair”, “The Woman of the Snow”, “Hoichi the Earless”, and “In a Cup of Tea”.

Breathtakingly photographed entirely on hand-painted sets, the film is an abstract wash of luminescent colours from another world. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present the complete 183-minute original Japanese cut of Masaki Kobayashi’s masterpiece on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK.

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Special features

Limited Edition Hardbound Slipcase [3000 copies]



A 100-PAGE Perfect Bound Illustrated Collector’s book featuring reprints of Lafcadio Hearn’s original ghost stories; a survey of the life and career of Masaki Kobayashi by Linda Hoaglund; and a wide ranging interview with the film maker – the last he’d ever give



1080p presentation on Blu-ray from Criterion’s 2K digital restoration of Kobayashi’s original director’s cut



Original monaural Japanese soundtrack



Optional English subtitles



Kim Newman on “Kwaidan” – a new interview with the film critic and writer



Shadowings [35 mins] – a new video essay by David Cairns



Original trailers