“Himiko” (卑弥呼) staring Shima Iwashita. This is the full-length Japanese paganistic film from 1974
Himiko (Japanese: 卑弥呼) is a 1974 bizarre Japanese fantasy drama film directed by Masahiro Shinoda. It was entered into the 1974 Cannes Film Festival Feature Film Competition.
The story follows the myth of the Sun Goddess, Himiko, who is the earliest Japanese historical figure documented in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean history, although her existence, identity, and location have been the source of endless debate.
Nevertheless, the consensus talks about a queen-shaman who was ruling Yamatai, the Kingdom of the Sun before Japan became a specific, separate entity.
In the film, she is a shaman who speaks for the Sun God, being revered in the society she lives in but also constrained by the will of her people for her to be a sacred entity. As the story begins, she finds herself in the middle of political turmoil regarding the succession of King Ohkimi, who is actually the true decision-maker in the kingdom, despite Himiko’s role.
Ohkimi plans to have Mimaki as his heir, but his younger brother, Ikume also wants the throne, while priest Nashime prefers Himiko to be the ruler.
The tension in the film escalates when Takehiko, Himiko’s half brother, returns after his world travels. Himiko, the shaman, finds herself falling in love with him, adding a layer of emotional conflict to the narrative.
However, Takehiko seems to have feelings for Adahime, a woman who assists Himiko in her various rituals.
As the story unfolds, the antagonism between the Kingdom of the Sun, the Kingdom of the Land, and The Kingdom of the Mountains also reaches a boiling point, further heightening the emotional stakes.
Here is the full-length film with English subtitles