Chushingura 1/47 (2001 TV Movie) User Reviews

Intelligent and intensive historical drama

[Rika_66 · 8/10 · 5 December 2005]

I really like this film! This is a TV film, so it is made in typically TV dramas style - few action and many talks. But anyway, it is very interesting, captivating and well made - smart and intense psychological drama about real events of late 17th - early 18th century in Japan. Sad, wise and intelligent film that speaks about very complicated and serious matters - value of life and death, honor and self respect, price of urging perfection and ideals... that sometimes to go on living is more difficult than to die.

It is well directed, with picturesque national and historic flavor, good rhythm, excellent dialogs. Special edition that I've bought, has English subtitles, so there were no problems with understanding.

There is a very good acting in this film, too. Sato Koichi as Ohishi was simply excellent! So delicate, so intelligent acting! But especially I was impressed by actor in leading role - Kimura Takuya as Yasubei. I saw this actor before only once, in Kar-Wai Wong's "2046" (he played there a small supporting role, but it stuck in my mind). In "Chushingura 1/47" I watched him in a big role for the first time. And I have to admit that he is a really good actor: vigorous, charismatic performance in dramatic scenes and very subtle, moving in lyrical ones; in the 3d part of the film he even made my cry twice!

Also I can recommend Chushingura 1/47 to all who is interesting in Japanese history. I've read about this historic incident before, but the film helped me to understand better Japanese customs of that time, reasons and mentality of the people involved in the events.

A "kao-mise" for the 21st Century

[dan-843-657853 · 9/10 · 4 April 2015]

This review contains spoilers because it is nearly impossible to write a comparative review of a true story reputedly filmed about 100 times over the last century of Japanese film making. Paghat the Ratgirl penned a comparative review of the most notable classic filmed versions at Netflix. I myself own 10 different filmed versions, watching each several times until I think I can compare them.

Produced as a Fuji TV "made for television" film , the commercially sold version has good English subtitles and very sharp high def video quality likely due to its being made to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the historic event. Costuming is lavishly colored and detailed as is expected for Chushingura films; Lord Asano clad in customary light blue and interior sets good. I knocked off a point for some of the exterior shots like the very fake-appearing Edo Castle exterior. The Pine Corridor set has the standard pine landscape paintings, but it is the least beautiful rendition when compared with other filmed versions. Amazingly there are not 47 ronin assembled in the room where the masterless samurai vow to seek revenge. I roughly count at most half that number.

This film is a remake of Nikkatsu Studio's 1934 Chushingura Ninjo-hen Fukushu-hen; Japan's first large-scale Western-style talking picture now lost to time. When compared with the 1928 Jitsuroku Chushingura, reputed to be the true version of events, this film is one of the least accurate filmed versions. When compared with the great classic versions filmed in the 1960s after lifting of war-time censorship, the film has a pleasing intimate feeling suitable for television unlike the epic scale of the 60s. The stabbing in the Pine Corridor takes visual effects from woodblock prints as is expected by the audience.

Most notable for film buffs is not another filmed version of the story, but the fact that this version is an all-star casting for the 21st century. Unlike most other versions, the actors are still alive. The all-star casting follows the Kabuki tradition of "kao-mise" or "showing faces" dating back to the Tokugawa period. The Kabuki season began with a late fall introductory performance to introduce all the actors slated to perform in the coming year. The audience was given a preview of faces old and new, with their stage personalities and acting styles. Noted TV drama star Takuya Kimura does a sympathetic portrayal of Horibe Yasubei. The film has veteran actor Masahiko Tsugawa doing an excellent rendition of the villain Kira Kozukenosuke; the best of any I have seen. Koichi Sato plays the chief protagonist Oishi Kuranosuke. Takako Matsu and Eri Fukatsu make appearances as young women as a prelude to their current status as major female film stars.

As in Kabuki tradition, the two emerging young male stars appear in contrasting "tateyaku" and "nimaime" roles they were predestined to play in 21st century feature films. Junichi Okada plays the steadfast "tateyaku" or "standing role" as the valiant Oishi Chikara. Okada has gone on to star in notable "samurai" films of the 21st century using his earnest screen personality started in this film. Satoshi Tsumabuki, cast as Takada Gunbei who gave up his death vow, plays the "nimaime" role where his emotional indecisive character represents love and life. A dozen years later, in current films marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WW2, the two stars reinforce their screen personalities established in Chushingura 1/47. Okada plays a kamikaze pilot in blockbuster Eien no Zero; a film some critics say overlooks Japan's wartime aggression. Tsumabuki plays a shy quiet Canadian Nisei baseball player in The Vancouver Asahi; a film with an ultimately sad story as internment camp films often are.

At the closing Takuya Kimura's character says living is harder than dying; a 21st century statement that contradicts the message given by older classics. Keep watching; the final seppuku scene appears after the credits roll because it has been found that it is bad for the box office to show it in the body of these films.