The Lower Depths (1957): cast, story & where to watch
1957 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1957, The Lower Depths is a drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 125 minutes.
What it’s about. Residents of a rundown boardinghouse in 19th-century Japan, including a mysterious old man and an aging actor, get drawn into a love triangle that turns violent. When amoral thief Sutekichi breaks off his affair with landlady Osugi to romance her younger sister, Okayo, Osugi extracts her revenge by revealing her infidelity to her jealous husband.
Who’s in it. The Lower Depths stars Toshirō Mifune as Sutekichi the Thief, Isuzu Yamada as Osugi the Landlady, Kyōko Kagawa as Okayo, Osugi's Sister and Ganjirô Nakamura I as Rokubei, Osugi's Husband, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, The Lower Depths has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Lower Depths page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Lower Depths tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Lower Depths (1957)?
- In US, The Lower Depths is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Lower Depths worth watching?
- The Lower Depths holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Lower Depths?
- The Lower Depths stars Toshirō Mifune, Isuzu Yamada, Kyōko Kagawa, Ganjirô Nakamura I and Ganjirō Nakamura II.
- When was The Lower Depths released?
- The Lower Depths was released in 1957, with a runtime of about 125 minutes.