Conflagration

Japanese with English Subtitles

Set in post‑war Kyoto, Conflagration follows Goichi, a troubled young man who seeks refuge and spiritual clarity as an apprentice monk at the serene Shukaku Temple. But as the outside world—steeped in vanity, desire, and hypocrisy—begins to seep into his sanctuary, Goichi’s devotion to pure beauty warps into something far more dangerous. His grip on reality loosens, and reverence slowly mutates into obsession.

Inspired by real events and adapted from Yukio Mishima’s acclaimed novel The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kon Ichikawa’s haunting psychological drama returns in a luminous 4K restoration. Presented in a dreamlike style that mirrors Goichi’s unraveling mind, this rare screening offers a striking rediscovery of a Japanese cinema classic. Co‑presented by the Japan Foundation.