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The Twilight Samurai

Original title: Tasogare Seibei
  • 20022002
  • K-11K-11
  • 2h 9min
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
23K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tasogare Seibei (2002)
DramaHistoryRomance

As the feudal Japan era draws to a close, a widower samurai experiences difficulty balancing clan loyalties, 2 young daughters, an aged mother, and the sudden reappearance of his childhood s... Read allAs the feudal Japan era draws to a close, a widower samurai experiences difficulty balancing clan loyalties, 2 young daughters, an aged mother, and the sudden reappearance of his childhood sweetheart.As the feudal Japan era draws to a close, a widower samurai experiences difficulty balancing clan loyalties, 2 young daughters, an aged mother, and the sudden reappearance of his childhood sweetheart.

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
23K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Yôji Yamada
  • Writers
    • Shûhei Fujisawa(novels "Tasogare Seibei", "Chikkou Shiatsu" and "Iwaibito Sukehachi")
    • Yôji Yamada(screenplay)
    • Yoshitaka Asama(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Hiroyuki Sanada
    • Rie Miyazawa
    • Nenji Kobayashi
Top credits
  • Director
    • Yôji Yamada
  • Writers
    • Shûhei Fujisawa(novels "Tasogare Seibei", "Chikkou Shiatsu" and "Iwaibito Sukehachi")
    • Yôji Yamada(screenplay)
    • Yoshitaka Asama(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Hiroyuki Sanada
    • Rie Miyazawa
    • Nenji Kobayashi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 114User reviews
    • 97Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 38 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos29

    Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Rie Miyazawa and Hiroyuki Sanada in Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Hiroyuki Sanada in Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Miki Itô, Rie Miyazawa, and Erina Hashiguchi in Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Hiroyuki Sanada in Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Hiroyuki Sanada and Erina Hashiguchi in Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Hiroyuki Sanada in Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Tasogare Seibei (2002)
    Tasogare Seibei (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hiroyuki Sanada
    Hiroyuki Sanada
    • Seibei Iguchias Seibei Iguchi
    Rie Miyazawa
    Rie Miyazawa
    • Tomoe Iinumaas Tomoe Iinuma
    Nenji Kobayashi
    • Choubei Kusakaas Choubei Kusaka
    Ren Ôsugi
    Ren Ôsugi
    • Toyotaro Kodaas Toyotaro Koda
    Mitsuru Fukikoshi
    Mitsuru Fukikoshi
    • Michinojo Iinumaas Michinojo Iinuma
    Kanako Fukaura
    • Yae Iinumaas Yae Iinuma
    Hiroshi Kanbe
    • Naotaas Naota
    Miki Ito
    • Kayano Iguchias Kayano Iguchi
    Erina Hashiguchi
    • Ito Iguchias Ito Iguchi
    Reiko Kusamura
    • Kinu Iguchias Kinu Iguchi
    Setsuko Tanaka
    Kii Mizuno
    • Taneas Tane
    Yuuki Natsusaka
    • Gemba Hattorias Gemba Hattori
    Astushi Maeda
    Tsukasa Sugawara
    Kôichi Taniguchi
    Teruhiko Tanaka
    Takako Miyashima
    • Director
      • Yôji Yamada
    • Writers
      • Shûhei Fujisawa(novels "Tasogare Seibei", "Chikkou Shiatsu" and "Iwaibito Sukehachi")
      • Yôji Yamada(screenplay)
      • Yoshitaka Asama(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai, leads a life without glory as a bureaucrat in the mid-XIX century Japan. A widower, he has charge of two daughters (whom he adores) and a senile mother; he must therefore work in the fields and accept piecework to make ends meet. New prospects seem to open up when Tomoe, his long-time love, divorces a brutal husband. However, even as the Japanese feudal system is unraveling, Seibei remains bound by the code of honour of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedences. The consequences are cruel. —Eduardo Casais <casaise@acm.org>
    japanjidai gekisamuraikatana sword19th century28 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • K-11
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Official submission of Japan for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 76th Academy Awards in 2004.
    • Goofs
      When Tozaemon (Uncle) come to scold Seibei for being unbathed and smelly, insect cages lying on the floor beside his left arm are on one row. In next shot cages are top of each other in two rows, even Tozaemon neither anybody else touch them.
    • Quotes

      Seibei Iguchi: I am ashamed to say that over many years of hardship with two daughters, a sick wife and an aged mother, I have lost the desire to wield a sword. A serious fight, the killing of a man, requires animal ferocity and calm disregard for one's own life. I have neither of those within me now. Perhaps in a month... alone with the beasts in the hills I could get them back. But tomorrow, I am afraid, is completely impossible.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Kimerareta Rhythm
      Performed by Yosui Inoue

    User reviews114

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Gently Powerful
    The settings and photography in this film are not "grand" but give the impression of realism and the grittiness of life in feudal times. The storytelling devices and attention to detail are core to the feeling I took away from this film, which was one of dipping into a tiny slice of time but seeing a myriad of ageless issues (honour, duty, grief, non-ambition, family priorities). However, what really impressed me was the way the main part (played by Hiroyuki Sanada) grew through the film. At the beginning of the film he seemed physically smaller, his whole demeanour and features were weak and insignificant. Having never seen him act before, I felt I was going to struggle to relate to this man as a lead role. It was incredible to see him (partly through acting and partly through subtle directing) grow into the figure we see at the end; he's taller with wide shoulders and strong features, yet remains a gentle and humble man. This is a very touching film and one which I could definitely watch over and over.
    helpful•15
    0
    • elliot murgatroyd
    • Mar 31, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 2002 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official sites
      • Empire Pictures (United States)
      • official site with message board (Japan)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Samurai hämyisen illan
    • Filming locations
      • Japan
    • Production companies
      • Eisei Gekijo
      • Hakuhodo
      • Nippon Shuppan Hanbai (Nippan) K.K.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $559,765
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,573
      • Apr 25, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,372,769
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 9min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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