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Poster for The Lower Depths

The Lower Depths

Seen it?

1957 | 125 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 5 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1957: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Residents of a rundown boardinghouse in 19th-century Japan, including a mysterious old man and an aging actor, get drawn into a love triangle that turns violent. When amoral thief Sutekichi breaks off his affair with landlady Osugi to romance her younger sister, Okayo, Osugi extracts her revenge by revealing her infidelity to her jealous husband.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    83% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 16K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

  • Toshirō MifuneSutekichi the Thief
  • Isuzu YamadaOsugi the Landlady
  • Kyōko KagawaOkayo, Osugi's Sister
  • Ganjirō Nakamura IIRokubei, Osugi's Husband
  • Minoru ChiakiFormer Samurai
  • Kamatari FujiwaraThe Actor
  • Akemi NegishiOsen the Prostitute
  • Nijiko KiyokawaOtaki the Candy-Seller
  • Kōji MitsuiYoshisaburo the Gambler
  • Eijirō TōnoTomekichi the Tinker