Backward Flow

1924 Drama 28 minutes Directed by Buntarō Futagawa

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About Backward Flow

Nanjo Mikisaburo, a young samurai, tries to pull his ruined family back up. Higher-ranking samurai scorn him. He trains in letters and arms under Kurahashi Jupeita. The master's daughter Misao encourages him, and he falls in love with her. The story takes his mother, his sister, and that love from him.

Cast & crew

More about Backward Flow

Buntarō Futagawa directed it. Rokuhei Susukita wrote it. Tsumasaburō Bandō plays Mikisaburo. Tomoko Makino is billed with him. It runs 28 minutes. It was shown with a benshi. The Japanese title is Gyakuryu.

Themes

  • A ruined samurai house
  • Scorn from the ranks above
  • A master's daughter
  • Tsumasaburō Bandō
  • Gyakuryu
  • Futagawa
  • samurai
  • Misao

Notes

  • Bandō's samurai loses his mother, is lied to about his sister, and loses Misao.
  • It is discussed as a forerunner of Orochi.
  • A benshi accompanied the silent picture.

Scenes

  • Mikisaburo trains while the senior samurai mock him.
  • Misao's sympathy turns into the love he later loses.

Also available

  • Internet Archive (silent-gyakury)