Twilight Samurai is set in the feudal Japanese time where the rule of the Shogun is falling and the Emperor alone will soon rule Japan.

The movie revolves around Seibei Iguchi (Hiroyuki Sanada) who is at the lower end of the Samurai class structure, his wife has recently passed away leaving him to care for his two children and an aged mother who is suffering dementia.

Seibei works at his clan's castle as a bookkeeper for food supplies and his co-workers bestowed upon him the nickname "Twilight Seibei" for his lack of socializing with them at local drink taverns outside of work. When Seibei's old friend Michinojo Iinuma (Mitsuru Fukikoshi) and fellow clan member returns from a trip to Kyoto he tells Seibei that his sister is back living in his household after a nightmare marriage to an abusive husband, he tells Seibei that she is now divorced something that obviously makes Seibei happy.

We learn that Linuma's beautiful sister Tomoe (Rie Miyazawa) and Seibei were Childhood friends and when the two meet after such a long time you can certainly see there is a fondness for each other. Up to now director Yamada has gently taken the viewer by the hand and introduced key characters in such a subtle way we can almost feel like we are watching old friends. Slowly and surely Yamada tightens the viewers attention and we see Seibei walking Tomoe to the Linuma house where her drunken ex-husband is causing trouble with her brother, the ex-husband challenges Linuma to a duel but at that point Seibei steps in to take up the challenge and arranges to meet the next day to duel.

When Seibei turns up at the duel with a wooden sword his opponent takes this as an insult and tells Seibei that he will be cut down with his blade.

The viewer soon learns that Seibei is a very skilled swordsman and easily knocks his aggressor out. The outcome of this duel gets to the attention of a certain Yogo Zenemon (Min Tanaka) who is Master of the Watch at the castle and an obviously serious and dangerous swordsman, the meeting with these two men at Seibei's work place is very interesting and I am sure Yamada was quietly proud of himself that he managed to get someone of Tanaka's talent for the role of Zenemon.

Further trouble is ahead as the clan's lord dies and in fighting between clan members soon erupts. Being a low ranking samurai Seibei carries on with his life and whilst the clan is sorting itself out he turns to farming and caring for his family, but it will be a peaceful life short lived as a messenger is sent to him to report to the castle for orders straight away.

We learn that the clan's headsman have ordered Zenemon to commit Seppuku and he has told them he will do no such thing and barricaded himself in his house, the clansmen attempt to send a skilled swordsman to kill Zenemon did not have the desired result and they had heard rumours that Seibei was handy with the sword.

As you would expect the two men meet and it is a very blunt and life like fight the two have, but for me this is where Yamada shines and the dialogue the two men have is very powerful and respectful. The conversation these two Samurai have and the action taken by Zenemon caused much debate amongst the film industry critics.

I have to say that for those who like kill, kill, blood, blood type samurai movies this is certainly not for you. One of the reasons this movie was such a success was that it dealt with what Yamada believed was a more common life in feudal Japan not the typical swashbuckling action we tend to watch, and the Japanese audience found they could relate much more with the characters hardship and mundane life. Not only did this movie win 12 Academy Awards in Japan but was also nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign film, and that's no surprise after watching it. A beautiful story of humanity, honor and love and one I highly recommend seeing.

by Paul Swainson
http://www.misogi.com.au