The Twilight Samurai

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Ian G I found this film on, I think? - Netflix UK several years ago, and was transfixed by this truly excellent film depicting life in rural Japan in the dying times of the old Bushido-driven society, when peasants could starve in hard winters and Samurai were often enough poverty stricken themselves. This is a very sensitively directed film with a very effective cast, all of whom played their various parts to perfection. Initially I was somewhat put off by its being a Japanese language film, making it needful to fish out the subtitle system, something I've never liked. But the early scenes in this so charmed me that I did just that and was transfixed throughout the story's deep involvement with its core family, and its st ruffles to survive in those days around the late eighteen hundreds - that's a guess, from memory. After seeing it through despite those subtitkes I hunted down a DVD copy as I knew I'd want to watch it again, it's that good a film. If you enjoy people-centred films with real characters struggling to get through trying situations, I'd urge you to see this very, very excellent film. I'm not one for writing gushing praises for movies unless it's something of exceptional class, but in this case I do urge you to try to view it somehow, even to buy a used dvd on spec. I doubt you'll be disappointed.. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/16/23 Full Review Tony S Loyalty and love. Very meditative. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/12/23 Full Review acsdoug D As much as I love Japanese cinema I've never been a fan of the samurai genre. This one is different. It's more of a portrait of a man struggling to support his family and just happens to be a samurai and it's very well done. Add this one to the handful of samurai movies I like. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/08/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved it! If you want a deep dive, and understanding into the culture of the samurai this is the movie for you! I thought it was magnificent, and I was completely immersed in the movie with the beautiful scenery. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Tony S A slow paced, beautiful and detailed look at transitional period of samurai, as they gradually become obsolete in 19th century Japan. From the point of view of a lowly samurai, nicknamed by his co-workers 'Twilight', who has found contentment and happiness, not in following the bushido code or serving the system, that doesn't care about him. But in his family and simple pleasurers of life. It is a very poignant and well thought out character study of great person, with little to no ambitions besides making the ends meet. The biggest bummer about this great film is the persistent narration of his daughter. That really doesn't add anything to the film and almost every scene, where it present would've been immensely improved if it wasn't there. It really feels like it was not in the original script at the times. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/01/21 Full Review Audience Member Japanese period film directed by a Japanese cinema veteran that enthralls with it's premise and evolving plot but lacks a truly satisfying conclusion. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Twilight Samurai

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