"The Twilight Samurai" (Tasogare Samurai)
It is the waning years of the feudal Edo Period in
Japan (1603-1867) and the militaristic ideals of the
Samurai are being replaced by the commercial needs
required for the country to become a part of the
modern world. Once-were-warriors are now clerks in the
clan businesses and one such Samurai, Seibei Iguchi
(Hiroyuki Sanada), is also a widower raising his two
daughters alone and caring for his senile mother. The
world is changing fast as the past and future collide
in "The Twilight Samurai."
Seibei, with all of his troubles and responsibilities,
has become an unkempt recluse, of sorts, as he does
his work as a petty member of the Unasaka clan then
rushes home to his family. His fellow Samurai make fun
of him behind his back, giving him the nickname
"Tasogare Seibei," Twilight Seibei. Seibei's solitary
ways and lack of good hygiene bring him to the
attention of the clan's lord who is repelled by the
smell emanating from one of his retainers. Clean up
your act or else, he is told by his immediate
superior.
Seibei is a low-level Samurai, it is true, but he is
also a loving father who cares deeply for his tiny
family. Things are about to change for the single
parent, who lost his wife to tuberculosis when his
daughters were small, when his childhood friend asks
his help with his recently divorced sister, Tomoe (Rie
Miyazawa), who is trying to break free from her
loutish brute of a husband. Seibei, knowing Tomoe
since they were kids, gladly takes her in, even if he
must confront her ex in combat.
Mr. Twilight surprises everybody, nay-saying coworkers
included, when he challenges Tomoe's husband armed
with only a bamboo sword. His better armed, drunken
opponent sees this as an easy kill but is unpleasantly
surprised when Seibei bests him in battle,
humiliating, rather than killing, the lout. Once we
are presented with Seibei as heroic, and not humble,
the story takes a different turn.
Veteran helmer Yoji Yamada, one of Japan's most
popular directors for his famous "Tora-San" series of
films, has crafted together a seemingly simple, but
extraordinarily complex, story that focuses on one
man, Seibei, and those around them. But, this
unpretentious little tale is set against the backdrop
of major events occurring in Japan, at the time, which
resonate into the lives of even the most humble.
Without realizing it, the viewer gets a fairly
comprehensive history of Japan lesson and learns about
the end of the Shogunate period where the medieval
feudal system reigned and the Samurai would declare
fealty to his lord. When we meet Seibei, the end of
this system is near and the role of the Samurai
warrior is changing from combat to commerce. We are
shown the very birth of the industrial might of the
Japanese.
Hiroyuki Sanada is marvelous as the film's title
character, commanding the screen like a modern day
Toshiro Mifune or Takashi Shimura. Though poor and
struggling to feed his family on his tiny retainer,
Sebei carries himself with dignity and quiet
capability that slowly comes out as the story
progresses, especially when he must come to aid
Tomoe's damsel-in-distress. When the beautiful
divorcee arrives on the scene, played with great poise
by Rie Miyazawa, the connection between her and Seibei
is palpable. From when their eyes meet you are rooting
for them to be together in the end but they have some
pretty formidable obstacles to face along the way -
and you're never sure which way it will end. Until the
end.
The supporting cast helps flesh out the background,
especially by Min Tanaka as Yogo Zenemon, a rugged,
skilled Samurai who falls on the wrong side of clan
politics and must either commit seppuku (ritual
suicide) or die under the blade of another. Yogo, of
course, will not turn his blade on himself and his
Lord sends another to kill him. The ensuing fight is
almost poetic and is the antithesis of such similar
scenes in the "Kill Bill" films or the horde of
martial arts films that preceded it. The choreographed
grace with which helmer Yamada depicts the Samurai
duels is remarkable and unexpected.
The screenplay, by Yamada and Yoshitaka Asama adapted
from the novel by Shuhei Fujisawa, nicely weaves the
historical upheaval in Japan in the later half of the
19th century with the simple, well-told story about a
man who is satisfied with what he has, without envy of
others. Seibei might be considered "the richest man in
Bedford Falls" in the near Capraesque character he
portrays. The capable combination of epic backdrop and
personal story is well handled. There is a modern feel
to the period tale with concepts such as education,
single parenthood, divorce and suffrage thrown into
the mix
"The Twilight Samurai" is a beautiful looking film,
too. Lenser Mutsuo Naganuma captures the look of
Samurai films that harkens back to Akira Kurosawa's
warrior tales from the 1950's. Kazuko Kurosawa (who
happens to be related to the majordomo of Japanese
films) does an expert job in creating the period look
of the transitional time just before western influence
gained a foothold in Japan. Production design by
Mitsuo Degawa also makes the period set feel real.
Other techs are also uniformly superior.
"The Twilight Samurai" isn't a Tom Cruise action clone
a la "The Last Samurai" (thankfully). It is a
brilliantly conceived and executed epic tale that
brings it down to a personal level, allowing the
viewer to sympathize with and root for Seibei. I give
it an A.
For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
robin@reelingreviews.com
laura@reelingreviews.com
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