Kitano "Beat" Takashi is one of the finest actors and directors to come out of Japan since the glorious days of Kirosawa. As a director, he has imbued this historical drama with the love and care dedicated to few films. As an actor his understanding of tension and timing has evoked a brilliant piece of film. He is not overbearing with his emotions, his quiet humility and perseverance carry him through tests seemingly impossible.
The focus of this film is on two geishas trying to avenge the death of their family. They come across the blind swordsman Zatoichi and he agrees to help them on their quest to discover the depths of deception and greed that has haunted them throughout their hard life. Surrounding their quest is the shadowy world of the gangs that rule the small town. As Kurosawa did in Yojimbo; Takashi does in Zatoichi, turning this blind swordsman into a heroic representation of grace and human achievement under pressure.
The settings are vibrant and simple, the colors used express the lively life that seems to elude many of the common people that the movie focuses on. In true classic Japanese film tradition, the honor of the main character is beset by the corruption of officials and their lackeys. Kitano plays the role with a note of humor, he is laughing at the absurdity of the world and seems to barley be able to support the weight of knowing the extent of evil in the world. He is slow and quiet while talking, and vicious and lightning quick when angered. he never loses his temper, instead focusing his anger on those evil men that plague us all.
Several musical scenes call upon the rich history of music in the Japanese culture, as well as symbolically representing the full circle of life that the peasants and farmers follow. The peasants stomping the rice in the muddy field, the construction of a house and a huge lively dance number at the end convey life continuing and healing taking place. The editing is incredible and the characterization is vivid. The rain that he frequently uses to set the mood becomes a character all its own. The small roles and supporting characters of the film are not throw away roles, but vibrant lively studies into the surrounding cast that help make this movie into a valuable slice of life in old Japan.
Takashi Kitano uses the story of revenge to drive the main characters towards their inevitable final battle and focuses the poverty and opulence of old Japan like a laser cutting through the issues of humanity and culture to find truth. The tragedy you feel at the trials of this blind man and the fury that his enemies exact on the town's populous is a sword blade that you feel against your own neck. These problems are not foreign, they are the everyday problems of life, farming, humanity and people. Blind Swordsman Zatoichi at first seems like a simple story of swordplay, revenge and murder, but turns out to be about the very essence of what makes people bond together in society and roll the wheel of time ever onward.
The focus of this film is on two geishas trying to avenge the death of their family. They come across the blind swordsman Zatoichi and he agrees to help them on their quest to discover the depths of deception and greed that has haunted them throughout their hard life. Surrounding their quest is the shadowy world of the gangs that rule the small town. As Kurosawa did in Yojimbo; Takashi does in Zatoichi, turning this blind swordsman into a heroic representation of grace and human achievement under pressure.
The settings are vibrant and simple, the colors used express the lively life that seems to elude many of the common people that the movie focuses on. In true classic Japanese film tradition, the honor of the main character is beset by the corruption of officials and their lackeys. Kitano plays the role with a note of humor, he is laughing at the absurdity of the world and seems to barley be able to support the weight of knowing the extent of evil in the world. He is slow and quiet while talking, and vicious and lightning quick when angered. he never loses his temper, instead focusing his anger on those evil men that plague us all.
Several musical scenes call upon the rich history of music in the Japanese culture, as well as symbolically representing the full circle of life that the peasants and farmers follow. The peasants stomping the rice in the muddy field, the construction of a house and a huge lively dance number at the end convey life continuing and healing taking place. The editing is incredible and the characterization is vivid. The rain that he frequently uses to set the mood becomes a character all its own. The small roles and supporting characters of the film are not throw away roles, but vibrant lively studies into the surrounding cast that help make this movie into a valuable slice of life in old Japan.
Takashi Kitano uses the story of revenge to drive the main characters towards their inevitable final battle and focuses the poverty and opulence of old Japan like a laser cutting through the issues of humanity and culture to find truth. The tragedy you feel at the trials of this blind man and the fury that his enemies exact on the town's populous is a sword blade that you feel against your own neck. These problems are not foreign, they are the everyday problems of life, farming, humanity and people. Blind Swordsman Zatoichi at first seems like a simple story of swordplay, revenge and murder, but turns out to be about the very essence of what makes people bond together in society and roll the wheel of time ever onward.