Obsessed with the constant threat of nuclear holocaust, wealthy foundry owner Nakajima (Toshiro Mifune) decides to move his entire family to Brazil but meets with strong resistance when his children realise their inheritance would be severely diminished. They retaliate by applying to the family court to judge him mentally incompetent and a family squabble of unusual proportions ensues. Though civil servant Harada (Takashi Shimura) empathises with Nakajima he becomes powerless to help the old man when the struggle is not only with a cold-hearted family, but against insanity itself.
