Gazing at Love and Death

A young girl knows that she is going to die and in this she is supported by the devotion of the boy who loves her. They originally met at the hospital. There it transpired that the only way to save her life was to sacrifice an eye and part of her face. The operation seems a success. Later, however, her other eye becomes affected. She feels she must let the boy go, and yet she depends so much upon his devotion.

Directed by Buichi Saitō, Gazing at Love and Death leans on a strong ensemble — Sayuri Yoshinaga, Mitsuo Hamada, Tanie Kitabayashi — 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 1964.