The trouble with much Japanese period drama is its slow pace and overall lack of leavening humour; its strengths are well-developed characterisations and an eye for historic detail. That said, there is not a lot to differentiate this film from so many others, although it does have many points of interest and is well worth the watch. Set towards the end of the Samurai era, it concerns a number of ronin (now masterless warriors) who have come well down in the world and who eke out an existence among the lowest classes. They spend their days drinking and gambling and would give anything to regain their former stature. The main character is in love with one of the whores, but can only stir himself by the promise of money when her life is in danger from a renegade group of the Shogun's men, who have been terrorizing and murdering the local "degenerates". A suitably bloody battle follows, but it is a long time coming.
There are a number of interesting personalities amongst these down-and-out ronin, including a massive man called 'Bull' played by Shintaro Katsu, star of the enormous Zatoichi series, a spurned suitor of the lead's love interest who also excels in the final battle, and a man reduced to selling birds who keeps dreaming up ways to raise the money for bribes so that he can rejoin his clan. Katsu's character is particularly interesting as he agrees to act as one of the rogue samurai's dog and is afraid to intervene, until emboldened by drink he redeems himself by a spectacular death. The flick is dedicated to the memory of one Shozo Makino on the 60th anniversary of his death; active between 1909 and 1928, he is considered the father of Japanese period movies -- and no, I never heard of him either.
2 comments:
Hummm...you sure do watch some interesting things that I would never even have thought about watching...but most of my spare time it here on the puter...LOL..hope you have a great weekend! Hugs,TErryAnn
Not the first film I have seen set in the twilight years of the samurai so it may well
be a recent Japanese equivalent to the cavalry epics of Hollywood. This one was
somewhat rougher on the ronin than some others have been. The story line of
local vigilantes sponsored by the local strong man coming up against the ronin
is interesting and I was left wondering what else may be available from this
director.
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