The Breaking of Branches is Forbidden

Synopsis

The head monk instructs a young novice to watch over a beautiful cherry tree in the monastery garden while he is away. However, the older man underestimates his fellow monk’s weakness for sake. Meanwhile, a samurai warrior and his servant decide to hold a picnic feast in the same garden beneath the blooming tree. The novice tries to keep them out, but when he catches the scent of their sake, his resolve is severely tested. Created in 1968, director Kawamoto’s debut puppet film is a moral story about a disciple who receives rightful punishment for a brief moment of weakness.