In a series of flashbacks it is revealed that Shino, the sole survivor of a shinjū with her lover Genji, was raped afterwards by Eisuke while being unconscious.

Village teacher Kura, Genji's former lover, married Eisuke despite her knowledge of his deed, and kept his identity a secret although she knew of his crimes.

Back in the present, Shino convinces Kura to turn Eisuke over to the police.

After his death sentence, Kura talks Shino into committing suicide with her, which she regards as the last logical act.

Consisting of over 2,000 single shots, Violence at Noon was once considered the most highly edited work in Japanese film history.