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Zatoichi (2003 film)
Encyclopedia
is a 2003 Japanese samurai drama
and action film
, directed, written, co-edited, and starring Takeshi Kitano
("Beat" Takeshi) as his eleventh film. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman.
The film is a revival of the classic Zatōichi
series of samurai
film and television dramas. It premiered on September 3, 2003 at the Venice Film Festival
, where it won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director
award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. It also stars Tadanobu Asano
, Michiyo Okusu
, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana
, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura
, and Akira Emoto.
gang war
and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Meanwhile, Zatōichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two geisha
siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. The siblings are the only survivors of a massacre that was carried out on their family estate in order to obtain large sums of money ten years ago. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same Yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town.
After slicing his way through an army of henchmen with his shikomizue, Zatōichi defeats the Yakuzas' bodyguard, a powerful ronin
, in a duel. Zatōichi later wanders into town and confronts the Yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command and blinding the elderly Yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point) after opening his eyes for the first time and giving the boss the impression that he has been able to see the entire time. The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese tap dance
troupe The Stripes, and Zatōichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything."
Jidaigeki
is a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
and action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
, directed, written, co-edited, and starring Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
("Beat" Takeshi) as his eleventh film. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman.
The film is a revival of the classic Zatōichi
Zatoichi
is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist . This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios and actor...
series of samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
film and television dramas. It premiered on September 3, 2003 at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, where it won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director
Silver Lion
The Leone d’Argento refers to a number of awards presented at the Venice Film Festival. The Silver Lion is awarded irregularly and have gone through several changes of purpose. Until 1995, Silver Lions were infrequently awarded to a number of films as second prize for those nominated for the...
award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. It also stars Tadanobu Asano
Tadanobu Asano
, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
, Michiyo Okusu
Michiyo Okusu
is a Chinese-born Japanese actress. She has been nominated for 4 Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 1981 Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role prize for her performance in Zigeunerweisen...
, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana
Daigorō Tachibana
Daigorō Tachibana b. 27 January 1987 is one of Hesei era's celebrated onnagata and taishū engeki actor...
, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura
Saburo Ishikura
Saburo Ishikura is a Japanese actor that has acted in several movies directed by Beat Takeshi. He appeared as Takeshi's first advisor in Takeshi's Castle but was later fired with Sonomanma Higashi taking over his place...
, and Akira Emoto.
Plot
The film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatōichi coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local YakuzaYakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
gang war
Gang War
Gang War is a 1928 gangster film, best known for being the main feature attached to Steamboat Willie, the debut of Mickey Mouse in sound. The film starred Jack Pickford in his last major role, as "Clyde", a saxophone player whose love for a dancer named Flowers traps him in the middle of a gang war...
and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Meanwhile, Zatōichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. The siblings are the only survivors of a massacre that was carried out on their family estate in order to obtain large sums of money ten years ago. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same Yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town.
After slicing his way through an army of henchmen with his shikomizue, Zatōichi defeats the Yakuzas' bodyguard, a powerful ronin
Ronin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
, in a duel. Zatōichi later wanders into town and confronts the Yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command and blinding the elderly Yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point) after opening his eyes for the first time and giving the boss the impression that he has been able to see the entire time. The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
troupe The Stripes, and Zatōichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything."
Cast
- Beat TakeshiTakeshi Kitanois a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
as ZatōichiZatoichiis a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist . This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios and actor... - Tadanobu AsanoTadanobu Asano, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
as the roninRoninA or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
Hattori Gennosuke - Michiyo OkusuMichiyo Okusuis a Chinese-born Japanese actress. She has been nominated for 4 Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 1981 Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role prize for her performance in Zigeunerweisen...
as O-Ume, the farmerFarmerA farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain... - Yui NatsukawaYui Natsukawais a Japanese entertainer. She was born on June 1, 1968 in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan. She is a left-hander . She was given a Best New Talent award at the 1995 Yokohama Film Festival for her role in Yoru ga mata kuru.-Drama:...
as O-Shino, Hattori's wife - Daigorô TachibanaDaigorō TachibanaDaigorō Tachibana b. 27 January 1987 is one of Hesei era's celebrated onnagata and taishū engeki actor...
as O-Sei - Taichi SaotomeTaichi Saotomeis a Japanese film and stage actor best known for playing beautiful young men and women. He is known as "Nagashime Ouji" or "Sidelong Glance Prince"....
as young O-Sei - Yuuko Daike as O-Kinu
- Guadalcanal Taka as Shinkichi
Awards
- 2003, September 6, Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, Silver Lion for Best Direction, Venice - 2003, Audience Award Leone Del Pubblico, Venice
- 2003, September 14, 28th International Toronto Film Festival, Audience Award AGF People's Choice Award, Toronto
- 2003, London Film FestivalLondon Film FestivalThe BFI London Film Festival is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, , currently in its 54th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute...