In medieval Japan, a rundown tenement complex at the base of a cliff is home to a group of down-and-outers, including a mysterious elderly man named Grandpa who shares tales of the unknown. The landlords, Rokubei and his wife Osugi, show no compassion for their tenants, who are stuck in a cycle of misery. Meanwhile, a secret affair between Osugi and a thief named Sutekichi is brewing, while Rokubei begins to develop feelings for Osugi's younger sister Okaya. As tensions rise, the complex's residents are forced to navigate their own desires and betrayals, all while searching for a better life.
The Lower Depths
The lives of residents in a small Japanese slum are deeply connected, with some holding onto hope for a better future and others struggling to cope with the difficulties of their current circumstances.