Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi) (released in the US as The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi) is a 2003 Japanese jidaigeki action film, directed, written, co-edited by and starring Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) in his eleventh directorial venture.[2] Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman, with Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura, and Akira Emoto in supporting roles.
| Zatoichi | |
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 Japanese theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Takeshi Kitano |
| Screenplay by | Takeshi Kitano |
| Based on | Zatoichi by Kan Shimozawa |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Katsumi Yanagishima |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Keiichi Suzuki |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Box office | $34.2 million[1] |
A revival of the classic Zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas, the film premiered on 2 September 2003 at the Venice International 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.
Plot
editThe film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local yakuza gang war and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Meanwhile, Zatoichi 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 robbery and massacre that was carried out on their family estate 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 sword, Zatoichi defeats the yakuza's bodyguard, a powerful rōnin, in a duel. Zatoichi later wanders into town and confronts the yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command after surprising him by opening his eyes and blinding the elderly yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point). The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese tap dance troupe The Stripes, and Zatoichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying: "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything."
Cast
edit- Takeshi Kitano as Zatoichi
- Tadanobu Asano as the rōnin Hattori Gennosuke
- Michiyo Okusu as Aunt O-ume, the farmer
- Yui Natsukawa as O-shino, Hattori's wife
- Daigoro Tachibana as O-sei
- Taichi Saotome as young O-sei
- Yūko Daike as O-kinu, sister of Osei.
- Guadalcanal Taka as Shinkichi, gambler nephew of Oume.
- Ittoku Kishibe as Ginzo, gang leader
- Saburo Ishikura as Ogiya, gang leader
- Akira Emoto as "Pops", tavern owner
Production
editKitano revealed that he was approached by others to create the film, and therefore differed from his own techniques, following the common filmmaking process in order to please them and make a pure-entertainment film.[3]
This film marks Kitano's first collaboration with composer Keiichi Suzuki, ending an eleven-year streak with Joe Hisaishi. The director said he made the decision feeling that the film needed percussion-based music, and that Hisaishi is not a flexible composer, and also suggested that Hisaishi had become too expensive for him. Costumes were created by Kazuko Kurosawa.[4]
Kitano used digital technology to increase the gore of the fights.[5]
Reception
editBox office
editThe film grossed US$23.8 million in Japan.[6]
Critical response
editOn review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Zatoichi had a approval rating of 87% based on 127 reviews and an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, Takeshi Kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of cinematic flair".[7] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 75 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[8]
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave Zatoichi four out of five stars.[9] Jasper Sharp of Midnight Eye praised the film as "pure cinematic magic".[10] Allan Tong of Exclaim! said: "When Zatoichi is on screen, the film erupts with brilliant fury in unforgettable action sequences".[11] The Washington Post praised the film, while comparing it to Yojimbo, Sanjuro and Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance.[5]
Awards
edit- 2003, September 6, Venice Film Festival, Silver Lion for Best Direction, Venice[2][12]
- 2003, Audience Award Leone Del Pubblico, Venice[2]
- 2003, September 14, 28th International Toronto International Film Festival, Audience Award AGF People's Choice Award, Toronto[2][12]
- 2003, London Film Festival[2]
- 2004, February 20, Japan Academy Prize, Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing, Outstanding Achievement in Music, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording, Tokyo
References
edit- ^ "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ a b c d e "Zatoichi" (PDF). kitanotakeshi.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ "Takeshi Kitano Interview". The A.V. Club. 2004-08-11. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
- ^ "Midnight Eye interview: Takeshi Kitano". Midnight Eye. 2003-11-05. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
- ^ a b Hunter, Stephen (August 6, 2004). "Blind Fury: A New Vision Of Zatoichi". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Schilling, Mark (May 18, 2015). "Japan Box Office: 'Cinderella' Wins Fourth Weekend". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ^ "Zatōichi (2003 film)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi". Metacritic.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (19 March 2004). "Zatoichi - Film". The Guardian.
- ^ Sharp, Jasper (6 October 2003). "Midnight Eye review: Zatoichi (2003, Takeshi KITANO)". Midnight Eye.
- ^ Tong, Allan (October 2003). "Zatoichi - Directed by Takeshi Kitano - TIFF Reviews". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015.
- ^ a b "Silver Screen Success". web-jpn.org. Archived from the original on November 26, 2004.
External links
edit- Official website
- Zatōichi at IMDb
- Zatoichi at the Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese)
- Zatōichi at AllMovie
- Zatōichi at Rotten Tomatoes
