The Snow Woman

Two sculptors trek through a snow-laden forest in feudal Japan and discover a massive tree they intend to carve into a Kannon statue. They plan to haul the tree to the village so the statue can be created for the temple. The discovery sets the project in motion and binds them to the statue's destiny.

A blizzard drives the two sculptors to shelter in an abandoned cottage. While they sleep, a mysterious woman enters and freezes the elder master to death, sparing the younger apprentice, Yosaku. She compels him to promise never to reveal what he saw, or she will kill him.

Yosaku begins living with the old master's widow, who takes him in after the tragedy. The large tree is cut and carried to the village, and Yosaku is charged with sculpting the statue the master intended for the temple.

A young woman named Yuki travels through the town during a heavy rain and stays the night at Yosaku's home. The widow falls ill, and Yuki, claiming medical knowledge, goes out to gather herbs to cure her. Her visit foreshadows the Snow Woman's impending presence.

Lord Jito beats the widow when she objects to the village misbehavior, blaming her for the children's conduct. On her deathbed, the widow asks Yuki to marry Yosaku, binding Yuki to his future.

Five years pass and Yuki and Yosaku are married and have a son. They continue the sculptural work, with Gyokei also competing to create the Kannon statue and the high priest weighing the results.

Jito proposes that Yosaku and Gyokei each carve a Kannon statue, with the high priest deciding which is superior. The setup pits technical skill against spiritual resonance, testing each artist's approach to the sacred form.

Jito's men accuse Yosaku of stealing the cut tree, even though Jito had previously granted permission. They demand a fee within five days or Yosaku will be arrested, escalating the pressure on him.

Yuki attempts to appeal to the governor for help but the ruler is away, so she negotiates with his wife. She promises to cure the governor's sick son and, transforming into the Snow Woman, brings snow to quell the fever. When the boy recovers, the governor pays Yuki, and she uses the money to pay Jito's fee.

Yosaku nears completion of the statue but struggles with the face. Inspired by Yuki, she becomes his muse, imbuing the goddess's visage with a compassionate, humane expression he's been seeking.

Gyokei presents his golden statue to the high priest, but the priest is unimpressed and notes that the face lacks a compassionate soul. The evaluation underscores the requirement for a soul within the goddess's eyes.

At a village festival they pray for inspiration for the statue's eyes. The shamaness again tries to burn Yuki, causing her to flee. Jito's men attack Yuki, attempting to rape her, and she transforms into the Snow Woman to freeze Jito to death.

The shamaness accuses Yuki of being a demon and killing Yosaku's master. Yosaku confronts her, realizing she is the Snow Woman responsible for the elder's death. He breaks his vow of secrecy, and Yuki says she must kill him, but their son crying in the other room interrupts. She spares him and disappears into a blizzard, urging Yosaku to raise their son and finish the statue.

In the final scene, Yuki looks back regretfully at the family she is deserting, while Yosaku sees the compassionate expression he needed to finish the statue. The union of their fates guides the completion of the sacred work.