Release Date

October, 30th, 2004

Running Time

132 min

Genre

Feature

Color

Color

Screening Format

35mm

Screen Size

-

Sound Processing

-

[ Directed by ]

• YAMADA Yoji

[ Produced by ]

• FUKASAWA Hiroshi
• YAMAMOTO Ichiro

[ Cast ]

• NAGASE Masatoshi ── Katagiri Munezo
• MATSU Takako ── Kie
• YOSHIOKA Hidetaka ── Shimada Samon

[ Staff ]

• FUJISAWA Shuhei ── Original Story
• YAMADA Yoji ── Screenplay
• ASAMA Yoshitaka ── Screenplay
• ISHII Iwao ── Screenplay

[ Production Company ]

SHOCHIKU, NTV, Sumitomo, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Nippan, Eisei Gekijo

[ Story ]

After the popular and critical success of his Oscar-nominated The Twilight Samurai, veteran director, Yamada Yoji, returns to period filmmaking with this humanistic drama.
Munezo (Nagase Masatoshi), a lowly swordsman for a northern clan, is reunited with former family servant, Kie (Matsu Takako). Having presumed that she is living a happy married life, he is shocked to discover that she has taken ill after leaving her husband and takes her home with him to recuperate. Meanwhile, Munezo's friend, Yaichiro (Ozawa Yukiyoshi), is charged with treason against the clan and flees into the mountains. Having studied swordsmanship at the same school, Munezo is ordered by the clan to track down Yaichiro and bring him to heel. A fierce duel ensues between the two, but in the thick of battle, Yaichiro is shot dead by a clan member. Questioning his masters' actions, Munezo challenges chief retainer Hori (Ogata Ken) and ultimately kills him using the lethal hidden blade technique. He lays down his swords and vows to live a peaceful life with Kie as a commoner.

[ Contact (International) ]

SHOCHIKU CO., LTD.
International Sales & Licensing
13F, Togeki Bldg., 4-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8422
tel: +81-3-5550-1623
fax: +81-3-5550-1654
E-mail: ibd@shochiku.co.jp
http://www.shochikufilms.com