Kameda (played by Masayuki Mori) is a Japanese soldier who seems to be struggling with the effects of trauma following his close call with execution for a crime he didn't commit during Japan’s war with Russia. His mental state appears fragile as he makes his way back home. He then crosses paths with Akama (Toshirô Mifune, in excellent form), another man on a personal quest—to marry his sweetheart Taeko (Setsuko Hara), who has been living under the control of an older man for quite some time. Her situation is essentially one where she’s being offered as property, and the potential buyer, Kayama (Minoru Chiaki), has connections to someone who might be able to assist Kameda in readjusting, though he himself harbors feelings for Ayako (Yoshiko Kuga), a spirited young woman. As expected, romance doesn't proceed without obstacles, and when Kameda meets Ayako, they find themselves attracted to each other. Without revealing too much, the rest of the film is a carefully crafted adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s story about love, dishonesty, morals, and faithfulness that demands your full attention and rewards it if you give it. It handles the consequences of wartime psychological issues and the position of women in a society that still considered them possessions—while also presenting us with a familiar love triangle. The film is cleverly arranged, blending intensity and humor into what becomes a study of various characters, each complex and without any clear-cut solutions. What eventually becomes apparent is that the name given to Kameda is as inappropriate as it could be. The cinematography set against the snowy mountains of Sapporo works well in conveying some of the emotional emptiness, and the music enhances the unfolding story, which often pauses before finally reaching a conclusion showing how a strong cast and a compelling narrative can easily make almost three hours of film feel effortless and enjoyable. It's definitely worth seeing on a large screen if you have the opportunity. It really is.

Source on TMDB