A sculptor and his apprentice embark on a journey up the mountain between Mino and Hida, in Japan, during the dead of winter, in search of a mythical tree, which they seek to fell, in order to carve it into a statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kannon, for their local temple.
However, before they are able to acquire the tree, they are confronted by the entity of a beautiful woman...who is actually the spirit of the mountain, in the form of the snow witch.
Legend has it that any man who gazes upon her, becomes possessed by her (though cursed is probably a more appropriate term).
So, when she enters the cabin in which the men are staying, she kills the would be sculptor- by freezing him to death- leaving his apprentice to bear the burden of her secret, on penalty of death.
However, she happens to fall in love with the apprentice, so she takes on the form of a regular woman- though one whose beauty is unsurpassed- and makes her way to his village.
Eventually the two are married and have a child, while the apprentice is tasked with carving the statue in absence of his mentor.
Things take a turn for the worse, when the local bailiff (the equivalent of a sheriff, in a western sense) becomes infatuated with the woman, and seeks to possess her by any means necessary...even if that means raping her.
Considering such, he is jealous of the apprentice, and thus constantly harasses him, in an attempt to prevent him from finishing his task.
But he definitely chose to mess with the wrong family...
The whole thing is rather short (at approx 1hour and 15 mins), and is rather simply constructed.
But it's nicely shot, and rather entertaining, despite the fact that the special effects are achieved with rather meager means (some fancy make-up and a few camera tricks).
Despite it's simplicity, however, it's a rather effective ghost story.
As it's both bothersome, and reassuring, to know that no matter what the culture and time frame is,...cops will always be considered bastards.
Long live the snow witch...and FTP.
6 out of 10...
