山椒大夫 (1954)

Another movie recommendation. Mizoguchi Kenji's "Sansho Daiyu" (or, in English, "Sansho the Bailiff"). This film takes place in the late-Heian era (maybe around 1000 or 1100 AD) and centers around a former daimyo's (feudal lord) family. In a retelling of a classic Japanese story, this daimyo intentionally disobeys an order from the government and loses his office. He is banished and his family is left to fend for themselves. While traveling along a road, his wife and two children are kidnapped, separated, and sold into slavery (the scene where the family is captured is quite intense). Life gets worse for everyone involved but its beautifully directed and there's a humanistic message.