
Alongside Tokyo's Sumida River is a ragpickers' settlement known as Ant Village. One night, a young Catholic girl, Satoko Kitahara, who has been baptized under the name of Maria, comes to offer her services. However, Ant Village is not just an ordinary vagrants' community but a fine autonomous organization, and as the municipal authorities have long been demanding that the people of Ant Village leave the site, Satoko is utilized to publicize the Village and win public sympathy. While being utilized in this manner, Satoko is nevertheless glad to be able to help the people of Ant Village, especially the children, and when the summer vacation comes she decides to take the children on an excursion to Hakone. To raise funds for this purpose she becomes a rag-picker herself.
Directed by Heinosuke Gosho, Maria of the Ant Village leans on a strong ensemble — Kakuko Chino, Kōji Nanbara, Shūji Sano — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1958.
Read More on the Blog
Loading reviews…

Robert Downey Jr returns to Marvel as Doctor Doom, and the Avengers face the X-Men era head on. Release date, the massive confirmed cast, and what the trailer reveals, all in one place.

Tom Holland’s biggest Spider-Man film yet is smashing records in theatres, and everyone is asking the same question: when does it hit OTT? Here is the latest, updated as it is confirmed.

The Michael Jackson biopic arrives on JioHotstar on August 29, 2026. Here is where to watch it, what you need, and why it is one of the year’s biggest music films.