Kisuke eventually marries Tamae, but their marriage remains celibate. Kisuke is driven by an obsessive, semi-Oedipal desire; he views Tamae more as a surrogate mother or a living version of the "Echizen" bamboo dolls his father crafted, rather than as a wife.
Set in the remote village of Takegami in 1926, the story follows , a young and talented bamboo artisan who has just lost his father. His life is upended by the arrival of Tamae (played by Ayako Wakao), a beautiful geisha who comes to pay her respects, revealing she was once supported by Kisuke's father. The narrative unfolds through several tragic layers: Kisuke eventually marries Tamae, but their marriage remains
While the film is considered a "forgotten masterpiece," it has been featured in international retrospectives, such as those at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Film at Lincoln Center with . Note that some historical 16mm prints have been reported to have occasional gaps in subtitling for specific dialogue scenes. Bamboo Doll of Echizen (1963) - IMDb His life is upended by the arrival of
Tamae's attempts to seek help lead to a premature labor and her eventual death. Broken by the loss, Kisuke vows never to make the "Echizen" style of bamboo doll again. Themes and Style Bamboo Doll of Echizen (1963) - IMDb Tamae's