The Temple of Wild Geese
1962, Japanese. Directed by Yūzō Kawashima.
Satoko is a mistress by trade or fate: when her master, the silkscreen artist of the Kohoan Temple in Kyoto, dies, she is given to the temple's lascivious head priest Kikuchi. She is drawn to a melancholy young acolyte, Jinen, who has observed the profligacy of his cruel master and Satoko's utter dependence on the man. Jinen is both fascinated and disturbed by Satoko's interest in him; he is similarly caught between loathing of Kikuchi and of the dark circumstances of his birth and his own moral weakness. The story unfolds in a dreamlike manner—a flashback inspired by a now-infamous image on a silkscreen in the souvenir shop at the so-called Temple of the Wild Geese.
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Temple of Wild Geese
The Temple of Wild Geese isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 21 January 1962.
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Cast & crew
- Yūzō KawashimaDirector
- Ayako WakaoSatoko Kirihara
- Masao MishimaJikai Kitami
- Isao KimuraAtsumichi Uda
- Kuniichi TakamiJinen Horinouchi / Sutekichi
- Ganjirō Nakamura IINangaku Kishimoto
- Mineko YorozuyoTatsu Kirihara
- Yoshiko KamoMasumi Fujimoto
- Shoichi OzawaKuniitsu Takami
- Kō NishimuraMokudō Kida
- Shinobu ArakiDokuseki Sugimoto
- Kōichi KatsuragiTakemine Matsuyama
- Ryōnosuke AzumaShōan Kawaguchi
Details
- Released
- 21 January 1962
- Original title
- 雁の寺
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Yūzō Kawashima, Kazuo Funahashi
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News & fan talk
What The Temple of Wild Geese is based on
The Temple of Wild Geese is based on The Temple of the Wild Geese, a 1961 novel by Tsutomu Mizukami.
Novel · 1961
The Temple of the Wild Geese
By Tsutomu Mizukami
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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The Temple of Wild Geese: quick answers
Is The Temple of Wild Geese worth watching?
The Temple of Wild Geese doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Temple of Wild Geese?
The Temple of Wild Geese runs 98 minutes (1h 38m).
Does The Temple of Wild Geese have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Temple of Wild Geese. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Temple of Wild Geese parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Temple of Wild Geese yet.
Which OTT platform is The Temple of Wild Geese on?
The Temple of Wild Geese isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 21 January 1962. (Checked 14 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Temple of Wild Geese?
If you liked The Temple of Wild Geese, try Samurai Rebellion, The Life of Oharu, Tokyo Decadence.
Who directed The Temple of Wild Geese?
The Temple of Wild Geese (1962) was directed by Yūzō Kawashima and stars Ayako Wakao, Masao Mishima, Isao Kimura.
What is The Temple of Wild Geese based on?
The Temple of Wild Geese is based on The Temple of the Wild Geese, a 1961 novel by Tsutomu Mizukami.