The River Fuefuki (笛吹川, Fuefukigawa) is a 1960 Japanese historical drama film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita and starring Hideko Takamine.
The main protagonists are farming couple Sadahei and Okei, whose two oldest sons join the ranks of the warriors, while the daughter becomes a servant at the court.
[2] Donald Richie, calling The River Fuefuki the director's last important film, considered its antitraditionalism to be mere appearance, as it "rejects only the worst of traditional life", but approves of the rest, the institution of the family in particular.
[4] Reviewers also commented on the techniques Kinoshita incorporated into the film, one being the addition of colour to the monochromatic images, an effect which Jacoby called "somewhat schematic".
[3] Additionally, Kinoshita inserted still photographs, particularly during battle scenes, which "both halt and hold the action" (Richie), resembling kamishibai theater.