Yoji Yamada, 2002 (9*)
This is a beautifully simple story of a samurai in 1870's Japan who has grown weary of battle and who now just wants to take care of his family. Seibei is just a low-paid storeroom worker at the clan castle helping keep up with the emergency food supply in case of war or siege, and is derided by his fellow workers as the "Twilight Samurai" because he no longer even goes out drinking and carousing with them. However, Seibei's wife has died from consumption and he takes care of his two daughters and aging mother by himself, and is content with this. His best friend, whom he grew up with, is a more successful samurai, and his sister also grew up with Seibei, so she becomes involved again with Seibei's family after moving back to her brother's house after a bitter marriage. This is not an action samurai film, with only two small man-to-man swordfights, but is an intelligent elegy to an entire culture in its last days. There's some beautiful scenery here with Mt. Fuji in the background, flowering cherry trees and azaleas, and classical Japanese architecture. This story will grow on you more and more after you've seen it, one of the best samurai films.
Quote: In order to kill a man, you must have the ferocity of an animal and a carelessness for one's own life.
This is a beautifully simple story of a samurai in 1870's Japan who has grown weary of battle and who now just wants to take care of his family. Seibei is just a low-paid storeroom worker at the clan castle helping keep up with the emergency food supply in case of war or siege, and is derided by his fellow workers as the "Twilight Samurai" because he no longer even goes out drinking and carousing with them. However, Seibei's wife has died from consumption and he takes care of his two daughters and aging mother by himself, and is content with this. His best friend, whom he grew up with, is a more successful samurai, and his sister also grew up with Seibei, so she becomes involved again with Seibei's family after moving back to her brother's house after a bitter marriage. This is not an action samurai film, with only two small man-to-man swordfights, but is an intelligent elegy to an entire culture in its last days. There's some beautiful scenery here with Mt. Fuji in the background, flowering cherry trees and azaleas, and classical Japanese architecture. This story will grow on you more and more after you've seen it, one of the best samurai films.
Quote: In order to kill a man, you must have the ferocity of an animal and a carelessness for one's own life.
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March 19, 2009 at 4:48 PM
A film that will really grow on you and can be watched more than once. It is first of the brilliant Samurai Trilogy from Yoji Yamada.
PS: I have to point out that it is Seibei and not Senshi.
March 19, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Thanks a lot for the correction! I'll fix it here and at "1000 dvds to See".. Every time I try to use my memory without looking them up, I get it wrong. I buried James Ivory in a post, and it was his producing partner Ismael Merchant who had died, not Ivory!
I'll definitely have to watch the rest of this trilogy, I really admire the look and mood of this film. I wish there were more like it, but that's what makes a "great film", it's not easy and not copy-able.
thanks for the comment and correction.. probably thinking of Sansho the Bailiff as well..
.. Jose, aka Jman..
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