Tasogare Seibei (2002)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Yôji Yamada

Writers:

Shûhei Fujisawa (novels)
Yôji Yamada (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 November 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A 19th-century samurai tries to protect a battered wife.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Widower | Duel | Sheath | Seppuku

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 37 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Seibei Iguchi
Rie Miyazawa	...	Tomoe Iinuma
Nenji Kobayashi	...	Choubei Kusaka
Ren Ôsugi	...	Toyotarou Kouda
Mitsuru Fukikoshi	...	Michinojo Iinuma
Kanako Fukaura
Hiroshi Kanbe	...	Naota
Miki Itô	...	Kayano Iguchi
Erina Hashiguchi	...	Ito Iguchi
Reiko Kusamura	...	Iguchi's Mother
Setsuko Tanaka
Kii Mizuno
Yuuki Natsusaka
Astushi Maeda
Tsukasa Sugawara

Also Known As:

The Twilight Samurai (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

Germany:129 min | USA:129 min | Argentina:129 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Australia:M | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Eisei Gekijo Company

Quotes:

Zenemon Yogo: So they sent you...
Seibei Iguchi: Zenemon Yogo, by order of the clan, I come for your life. Draw your sword, please.
Zenemon Yogo: [Intoxicated] Have a drink? I know you're all keyed up, but I'm going to run.
Seibei Iguchi: Run?
Zenemon Yogo: Yep. I want you to let me get away. If you please.
Seibei Iguchi: I didn't expect that fromt he clan's best one-sword man. My orders are to kill you. I can't let you escape.
Zenemon Yogo: Don't be so impatient, you can kill me at anytime. I'd like to talk to you. Have a seat. It's a nice day.

Movie Connections:

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

Brilliant, Poetic and above all Moving!

What can I say about what I've just seen? I'm lost for words to describe what I thought of this film as it's that good.

Firstly before anyone gets this assumption about this film being based as a typical Japanese action flick with swords sparking and flashing around then please look elsewhere as this is more drama based.

Since watching The Last Samurai earlier this year it's been a none stop roller-coaster ride of Japanses flicks (i.e. Dark Water, Casshern, Zatoichi, Onibaba, Kwaiden), the list goes on.

I was keeping a close eye on Hiroyuki Sanada ever since his charismatic portrayal in Ringu and have since become a huge fan of this actor and glad to see his status has further improved with his recent appearance in The Last Samurai too.

This alone demonstrates how the East is winning over it's audiences more than Americans considering the level of spirituality invested in the many actors that are up and coming unlike the types who only seem bent on cashing in on fame and overrated acting.

Tasogare Seibei (Twilight Samurai) tells the story of Seibei Iguchi (played by the great Sanada) who has recently lost his wife due to consumption, thus takes it upon himself to become a Mr. Mum to his two young daughters and sick Mother. Gradually he begins to feel somewhat detached to his duties as a Samuarai as he feels the need to devote his time more to being full-time family man rather than being a noble Warrior, who only seems to front his sword unsheathed considering he sold it to support his family. It's not too long before happiness turns up in the form of pretty young girl (Rie Miyazawa) who rekindles his joy of long lost childhood friendship but also on the run from her drunk ex-husband who's only content is bullying and assaulting her.

All I can say is that Japanese film makers have greater integrity to pulling off better stories than what Hollywood seems to be coming out with these days. With production values being second to none it's pleasing to see how more time and effort has been spent towards character development. Sanada and Miyazawa display great conviction with there behaviours, not to mention the young adorable children.

Though this is based around the same time period as what The Last Samurai was based in, Twilight Samurai seems to take on more emotional approach towards Japan's time period conversion from Edo to Meiji restoration.

Trust me if only Shakespeare had been around to see great works of art like this he'd have dropped dead with great admiration. Hats of to Yoji Yamada, great to see many old school directors making solid films even today. I have to admit that the Japanese seem to have a fondness for making many of there audiences rather weepy as this most definitely touches the heart and soul in all the right places at once.

Brilliant - Arigato & Sayonara