Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu (1967)

Director:

Masaki Kobayashi

Writers:

Shinobu Hashimoto (writer)
Yasuhiko Takiguchi (novel)

Release Date:

December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Katana Sword | Based On Novel

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Toshirô Mifune	...	Isaburo Sasahara
Yôko Tsukasa	...	Ichi Sasahara
Takeshi Katô	...	Yogoro Sasahara (as Go Kato)
Tatsuyoshi Ehara	...	Bunzo Sasahara
Etsuko Ichihara	...	Kiku
Isao Yamagata	...	Shobei Tsuchiya
Tatsuya Nakadai	...	Tatewaki Asano
Shigeru Kôyama	...	Geki Takahashi
Michiko Otsuka	...	Suga Sasahara
Tatsuo Matsumura	...	Lord Masakata Matsudaira
Masao Mishima	...	Sanzaemon Yanase
Jun Hamamura	...	Hyoemon Shiomi
Emi Yamada	...	Shiomi's wife
Takamaru Sasaki	...	Kenmotsu Sasahara
Hideo Fukuhara	...	Sahei

Also Known As:

Joî-uchi
Rebellion (USA)
Rebellion: Receive the Wife (literal English title)
Samurai Rebellion

Runtime:

128 min | 121 min (cut version)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Mifune Productions Co. Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Music for the Movies: Tôru Takemitsu (1994)

We All Have Our Own Way of Living

"During the powerful Tokugano Regime in Edo (presently Tokyo), there were 264 lords or "daimyo". These feudal lords ruled their clan and the people under them".

In 1725, the henpecked samurai Isaburo Sasahara (Toshirô Mifune) and his friend Tatewaki Asano (Tatsuya Nakadai) are the best swordsmen of their clan. Isaburo regrets his arranged marriage with the dominator Suga (Michiko Otsuka) and expects to give a good marriage to his son Yogoro (Go Kato). However, their Lord Masakata Matsudaira (Tatsuo Matsumura) orders Yogoro to marry his mistress Ichi (Yôko Tsukasa), who has a bad fame in the clan since she slapped the lord's face and torn his clothes apart. The Sasahara family objects but Yogoro accepts to marry Ichi for the good of his family. Instead of a pampered woman, Ichi proves to be a good wife and discloses the reason of her reaction to Yogoro, when she surprised him with a mistress after bearing their son. Ichi delivers the baby girl Tomi and is loved by Yogoro. When the lord's son dies, he orders Ichi to return to the castle to legitimate their son and successor of his clan. Yogoro does not accept the order under the protest of his family, and his brother Bunzo (Tatsuyoshi Ehara) lures and kidnaps Ichi, bringing her back to the castle. Isaburo and Yogoro decide to request the return of Ichi and have to face the wraith of their lord and clan.

"Samurai Rebellion" is another Japanese masterpiece, with a beautiful and engaging romance in the period of Tokugano Regime in Edo and comparable to Romeo and Juliette. Further, this is also a cruel story of attitude against tyrannical governments and I loved the line "We All Have Our Own Way of Living". I am fascinated by the rich Japanese history, despite my knowledge be limited to the movies I see, and I found "Samurai Rebellion" wonderful also in this regard. The direction and acting are awesome, and the stunning Toshirô Mifune has another fantastic performance. The black and white cinematography associated to the magnificent camera work, settings and scenarios gives an intense reconstitution of Japan lifestyle in the Eighteenth Century. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): Not Available