Semishigure

Stunningly beautiful cinematography. Deeply moving story about love, friendship and unreasonable life. Realistic and exciting sword action. Serene and precise acting of the actors. "Semishigure" already has all the elements of a good samurai movie, but the most powerful one that penetrates through Japanese audience is the quiet appreciation to the virtue that all Japanese people share, throughout its long history and still lives in their hearts. Its serene beauty and the characters' straight posture against their destiny are something that Japanese people seek and apprecaite all the time, either conciously or uncouciously.

Based on one of many samurai novels by Shuhei Fujisawa, Director Mitsuo Kurotsuchi's 15-year long project was finally realized this fall. The main actor Somegoro Ichikawa's picturesque sword action and classy samurai movements are the fruit as his long career as the top Kabuki actor. His opposite Yoshino Kimura is simply beautiful and her hidden sarrow really touches your heart.

If you like "The Twilight Samurai", you will definitely appreciate this one by the same original novelist and with the similar appreciation to the Japanese inner beauty.

(November, 2005)