The Dragon Painter (1919)

Set against the backdrop of the wild, Tatsu is a painter consumed by a fantastical obsession. He paints ceaselessly, his canvas devoted solely to the image of a princess, who he firmly believes has taken the form of a dragon. As he brushes vibrant strokes of his enchanted love, his unique talent is discovered by a servant of Kano Indara, a master painter in the twilight of his career, seeking a worthy heir to inherit his artistic legacy. Tatsu is persuaded to accompany the servant back to Indara, with the promise that he could potentially find his elusive princess. Upon arrival, Tatsu is led to believe that Indara's daughter, Ume Ko, is his long-lost princess reincarnated. With his muse found, Tatsu's once flowing creativity dries up, his masterpieces are no longer born from his brush. Desperate to reignite Tatsu's artistic fire, Ume Ko plays out a tragic deception, making Tatsu believe that she has taken her own life. The heartache fuels Tatsu's artistry once more, and when Ume Ko reveals her act, Tatsu realizes that his love must always serve his art. United, they spend their days in harmony, with Tatsu capturing his princess on canvas, just as he did in the wilderness.

The Dragon Painter is a drama movie featuring Sessue Hayakawa and directed by William Worthington.

The Dragon Painter is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Dragon Painter on Kino Now.