Satsuma moso-biwa

South Japan. Each year in July, the order of the Blind Monks congregates in the Nakajima Jorakuin-Temple. This, the order's main temple, was founded in Satsuma in 1196. By tradition, the blind men still travel to this holy place to practise playing the biwa. The biwa is a special lute whose awkward sounds are believed to bring happiness. After having played on their instruments for three days and two nights, the monks leave for the nearby villages. The people are eagerly looking forward to their arrival.
One blind monk, Junkai Fukijima, is closely followed by Suwa's filmcrew. Fukijima is met with awe and devotion in the various houses: the villagers believe that the biwa is the incarnation ot Buddha. Whilst playing the biwa, the monk gives praise to the household gods and so brings happiness to its inhabitants.
This documentary describes the Blind Monks' lives. It is amazing that the monks' age old tradition and the people's desires still go together in a totally modernized Japan. The figure of the blind monk is an odd sight: the biwa on his back, knapsack on his head, walking from one village to another across heaths and fields.
Suwa Atsushi, the director of this film, has consciously opted for some degree of staging. This can be seen in every scene and in the way the film has been edited. The result is a highly original film that stands midway between a feature film and a documentary.