Yôkihi (1955)

 

In eighth-century China, the emperor mourns the loss of his wife. The opportunistic Yang family offers a distant cousin as a concubine in hopes of gaining influence at court.

Sumptuous, beautifully set and photographed period drama is a love tragedy of truly Shakespearean dimensions; but maybe not quite as stirring as it could have been.

Maltin***: "Breathtakingly beautiful, poetic love story/fable/tragedy."