A group of impoverished misfits inhabiting a Japanese landfill have experiences that are alternately joyful and disheartening. Young, disabled Roku-chan (Yoshitaka Zushi) spends his days in a fantasy world where he is the captain of an imaginary train, while his mother, Okuni (Kin Sugai), remains in constant prayer, rarely venturing out of her shanty. A homeless man and his child lovingly envision every detail of the home they wish they had money to build, and a mute girl has a tragic encounter.

Akira Kurosawa’s first color film is a spellbinding tribute to humankind’s ability to transcend adversity by holding on to hopes and dreams.  In a clear departure from his usual theme – the glorification of heroic individuals – Kurosawa focuses on the courage of the desperately poor and downtrodden.  Brilliant colors flood the screen as he explores the impact of modern life on the inhabitants of a dilapidated Tokyo slum.  Sometimes humorous, often tragic, their stories have a common thread – to escape the pain of abject poverty, they take refuge in dreams of a better life.  Kurosawa took an active role in creating the vivid colors (he painted the poster-style walls in the shantytown himself) that so perfectly express his vision.