| Title: |
When the Last Sword is Drawn |
Also known as Mibu gishi den |
| Publisher's site: |
Tartan Video |
c |
| IMDB score |
7.6/10 |
839 voters |
| IMDB link |
Internet Movie Database |
c |
| Amazon link: |
When the Last Sword is Drawn |
c |
| Date: |
2003 |
c |
| Available formats: |
DVD |
PAL & NTSC |
| Director |
Yojiro Takita |
c |
| Starring: |
Kiichi Nakai |
Kanichiro Yoshimura |
When the Last Sword is Drawn
The story is set in Japan in the late 1800’s and is about a man named Kanichiro Yoshimura who is a samurai family man who can no longer feed his wife and children due to the low wages paid from his small town clan. Sadly, he packs up and leaves his loved ones behind so he may make a higher earning to support his family in the big city as he joins the large and renowned samurai faction, the Shinsengumi, where he will lead a difficult, but enriching life during one of the most tumultuous times in Japanese history.
The story is masterfully told in a non-linear fashion beginning in 1899 as an elderly man named Hajime Saito brings his sick grandson to a doctor. An old picture of a samurai in the doctor's home becomes the focus as the two men discover they share painful memories and close ties with this samurai. Through their individual perspectives, a complete 'picture' of the man known as Kanichiro Yoshimura is slowly revealed. Initially he is shown becoming one of the Shinsengumi Clan who are fiercely loyal to the shogunate, yet consider themselves protectors of the Emperor as well. When the shogunate is finally abolished, the men are forced to choose sides which leads to a fateful battle between sword-wielding samurai and the Emperor's newly formed troops armed with rifles and cannon. With this struggle as a backdrop, the film explores what brings Yoshimura to the clan and what motivates his peculiar actions that initially cause Hajime Saito, his fellow clan member to despise him. Eventually Saito and the doctor, who turns out to bethe son of Yoshimura's best friend find closure through their shared memories.
If you enjoyed The last samurai then you will most probably like this film too, they are very similar in some ways but also very different in other ways. Some of the swordplay in this film is absolutely amazing but then there are a few bits where the film can get slightly confusing if you don’t know much about Japanese history and traditions.
Review by Todd Reeves
