Rebellion

Released May 27, 1967

2h 5m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

93%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Samurai Isaburo Sasahara (Toshirô Mifune) faces the wrath of his clan when he exhibits disobedience in favor of what is right. When the ruling lord forces his son, Ichi (Gô Katô), and his unwanted mistress (Yoko Tsukasa) into marriage, the two fall in love despite all expectations. However, when the callous ruler requests Ichi's return only two years later, Sasahara, unwilling to see his son and daughter-in-law torn apart, is prepared to fight for their union.

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Michael Sragow

New Yorker

No one could seethe better than Mifune, but what gives the movie equal shares of exhilaration and heartbreak is the feeling that pours out of him ...

May 11, 2015

Full Review

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

The film's escalation of tension is almost unbearable, and Mifune erupts with a ferocity that's as righteous as it is ultimately tragic, for Kobayashi refuses to soften the film's devastating imbalance of power.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 16, 2006

Full Review

Chuck Stephens

Village Voice

Austerely anti-authoritarian.

Aug 16, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A heart-felt action film that is eloquent and haunting in its reflections on the abuse of powers by the ruling class.

Rated: A-

Sep 22, 2016

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

It is obvious that it will end in violence, but the violence is a long time coming. I kept wondering why they didn't just get on with it.

Rated: C+

Nov 25, 2008

Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

As powerful, meditative, and gripping as anything Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujiro Ozu, or other Japanese masters have created.

Rated: 92/100

Aug 25, 2005

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Dani G

An intense samurai drama in the most typical fashion of Kobayashi, with two of the biggest japanese classic stars in Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

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Lars N

Crazy pretty, heartfelt and flat out cool AF.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

Nawt W

A very grim Kobayashi movie about defiance. Once again plucking on his country's obsession for rituals, rules, and hierarchy, he masterfully showcases the lowest of the low, the "cruelest form of tyranny," where duty and honor are somehow supposed to triumph over humanity and simple emotions. It's all great. The cinematography makes a movie that 3/4 consists of interiors seem very lustrous and refreshing; the direction; the Japanese ambient; the characters. Mifune and Nakadai are incredible as always. Even if Nakadai is a little bit underutilized for my liking. Mifune's role is, by and large, the most fascinating part of the film. He is a father who projects his own unhappiness and life regrets over his son, nudging him to not betray his integrity and feelings even when he knows that he is definitely dooming his family. In the end, he sees this rebellion as a better sum total than just shuffling around the house lamenting his life choices and the lord chasing his family into the corner and stripping them of any dignity for no other reason but feudal optics.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/10/22

Full Review

Christopher B

While I have seen only one other of Masaki Kobayashi's films (At the time of this review), "Harakiri" (1962), I have no doubt whatsoever in his mastery as a director. Both films are masterpieces telling of injustices during Japan's feudal era and the enormity of the class differences. Samurai Rebellion which stars the legendary Toshiro Mifune, displays both a touching and emotionally investing film that has perfect balance. For the first hour and a half we are introduced to our characters and the plight that will soon spell disaster. The last half hour is a brilliantly filmed samurai showdown where Mifune truly shines as a man of justice and morality. The cinematography of the various Japanese landscapes and wonderfully detailed traditional Japanese housing really add depth and a sense of being that is hard to replicate. What an amazing and beautiful film to see and be moved by. If you love Japanese films, culture or samurai this is an absolute necessity to watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/22

Full Review

William L

"The mats? It's a custom at times like these. So our feet won't slip in the blood." While the title and quote above may give the impression that Samurai Rebellion is among the more gratuitous period samurai films, in reality it is one of the more restrained, focusing instead on love, honor, family, and custom than swordplay. But that's the MO of Masaki Kobayashi, tough moral choices made even sharper with emotional involvement and mortal consequences. Toshiro Mifune gives a performance that leaves much of his talent for comedy behind in one of his most sincere dramatic turns, as he and his son (Go Kato) explore the boundary between justice and adherence to traditional order. When the swordplay finally does arrive in the final acts of the film, there is some great cinematography to support it, particularly the waving reeds and windswept landscapes, though the choreography could have used a bit of work (a couple extras seem to fall down with a shockingly light touch). While not as thoroughly engrossing as Harakiri, Samurai Rebellion beenfits from solid performances, excellent set design, and compelling conflicts; it's a samurai film that goes well beyond flashy knife fights. (4/5)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/25/22

Full Review

Mostafa F

best samurai movie alongside the "Harakiri"

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/22/21

Full Review

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Masaki Kobayashi

Director

Toshiro Mifune

Isaburo Sasahara

Tatsuya Nakadai

Tatewaki Asano

Yoko Tsukasa

Ichi Sasahara

Gô Katô

Yogoro Sasahara

Michiko Otsuka

Suga Sasahara

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Synopsis

Samurai Isaburo Sasahara (Toshirô Mifune) faces the wrath of his clan when he exhibits disobedience in favor of what is right. When the ruling lord forces his son, Ichi (Gô Katô), and his unwanted mistress (Yoko Tsukasa) into marriage, the two fall in love despite all expectations. However, when the callous ruler requests Ichi's return only two years later, Sasahara, unwilling to see his son and daughter-in-law torn apart, is prepared to fight for their union.

Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Screenwriter: Shinobu Hashimoto
Production Co: Columbia
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): May 27, 1967, Original
Release Date (DVD): Oct 25, 2005
Runtime: 2h 5m