The struggle is not just social; Nakajima captures the harsh realities of the Japanese wilderness, showing how winter storms and avalanches are just as threatening to the Seburi's survival as the military police.
With a cast including Kenichi Hagiwara and Yumiko Fujita, the film uses an "elegant rhythm" to contrast its barbaric plot elements. Its visual style captures the "wild vein" of the mountainous terrain, emphasizing that the Sanka's habitat is as much a character as the people themselves.
An essay for the 1985 film The Seburi Story ( Seburi Monogatari ), directed by Sadao Nakajima, could focus on its unique exploration of Japan's nomadic Sanka people and the tension between ancient tradition and modern encroachment.