2002 film by Yoji Yamada and starring Hiroyuki Sanada. This movie has an almost identical plot to Yamada's 2004 movie The Hidden Blade. I liked both movies but preferred Twilight Samurai a bit more. It was a little more emotional with a sadder ending.
Like The Hidden Blade, this film was set in the late 19th century as the shogun period was coming to an end. Seibei was a low-ranking samurai of the Unasaka clan. Just as Seibei begins to dream he might win the hand of his childhood sweetheart Tomoe, he is caught in the turmoil of the times. Seibei is assigned the unwanted task to confront and kill a renowned warrior on the wrong side of a clan power struggle.
I saw this movie awhile back on my way to Japan on JAL. Nice movie.
ReplyDeleteI liked Twilight Samurai a lot. I saw it when I was in Japan still. A student loaned me the DVD.
ReplyDeleteI agree Jason. It was one of the better samurai movies I have seen.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite of the 'modern' Samurai movies. HIroyuki Sadana is a fantastic actor. I think this movie is a bit more refined than hidden blade. It definitely has a traditional Japanese ending.... Not a happy one!
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly a must see for the Samurai Genre otaku. Personally think it rivals some of Kurosawa's movies. (Is that blasphemy?) I know its good because every time I turn it on my wife rolls her eyes and goes to another room!
I enjoyed the cinematography. I like how they were able to capture the fishing scenes. Also, I liked the scene where he sharpens his wakizashi.
I think it really captured some of the human element a lot of other samurai moves gloss over getting to the honorable and flashy sword-fight.
I don't think it is blasphemy. It is a very good movie which I enjoyed very much.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThis is by far the best Sanada film out there. It highlights the turbulent times in the late Tokugawa era before the onset of the tragic Boshin War. If you have seen Ore Kimi you will notice the grown up Ito is played by the same actress.
ReplyDeleteThis film is part of the directors trilogy where he mentions in all three films the "Toda Shinkage" school.
Louis
lrosas@ca.rr.com
Thanks Louis. I have seen two of his films and hope to see the third.
ReplyDeleteI agree the Boshin War was tragic for some, especially the Aizu clan. If you are interested in this period, I recommend the book Remembering Aizu: The Testament of Shiba Goro.
http://books.google.com/books?id=xMmO7XM0XoEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=label:%22japanese+history%22#v=onepage&q=&f=false