Feature Films on Medieval Japan

Eijanaika    151 min.
Set at the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1866-67), a portrayal of a people's revolution, as the lower classes revolt against the samurai class in a frenzied storm that devastates their small village. Cast includes Shigeru Izumiya, Kaori Momoi and Ken Ogata; directed by Shohei Imamura. In Japanese, with English subtitles.  Imamura Shhei.  1981.

Gonza the Spearman    126min.
During the Tokugawa shogunate in the early 1700s, Japanese provincial lords were obliged to spend alternate years in Edo, the capital city. Wives and children were left behind - and this often resulted in tragedy. Such is the case in Masahiro Shinoda's naturalistic adaption of a noted 18th century bunraku (puppet theatre) play entitled "Yari No Gonza Kasane," translated as "Spearman Gonza's Illicit Love." This classic tale of love, honor and tragedy was written by well-known bunraku playwright Monzaemon Chikamatsu (1653-1725), often referred to as "the Shakespeare of Japan." The handsome, ambitious Gonza Sasano is one of the Matsue clan's most talented lancers. Although he is already engaged to the sister of one of his fellow retainers, Gonza agrees to wed the daughter of his lord to better his position. The fiancee's infuriated brother then plots against Gonza, seemingly catching him in an indiscretion with their master's wife. Unable to prove their innocence, Gonza and the lord's wife must flee. The rigid social morality and code of honor of old Japan is ultimately served in the film's bloody finale. In Japanese with English subtitles.  Masahiro Shinoda.  Kino Video. 1986.

Heaven and Earth    104 min.
In 16th century Japan, as the entire country erupts into feudal warfare, two warlords, one enlightened and the other a ruthless dictator, rise out of the turmoil and clash in a confrontation of epic proportions. Cast includes Takaaki Enoki, Masahiko Tsugawa, Atsuko Asano and Tsunehiko Watase. Based on the novel by Chogoro Kaionji. Directed by Haruki Kadokawa. In Japanese, with English subtitles.  Haruki Kadokawa.  Live Home Video.  1991.

Ran

Seven Samurai : (Shichinin no Samurai)    208 min.
Action-adventure epic about a 16th century farm community led by a band of samurai warriors defending itself from a maurading army. Influenced a generation of motion picture directors, from Sam Peckinpah to Sergio Leone, and inspired an American remake, The Magnificent Seven. Cast includes Toshire Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Yukio Shimazaki and Ko Kimura; screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni; directed by Kurosawa. In Japanese, with English subtitles. Reissue, produced by Isaac Mizrahi, includes supplementary material, including an audio essay by Michael Jeck discussing the making of the film, its importance in Japanese film history, and the collaboration between Toshiro Mifune and Akira Kurosawa. In Japanese with English subtitles.  Akira Kurosawa.  Public Media Home Vision.  1954.

Shadow Warrior : (Kagemusha)    160 min.
An epic drama of feudal conflict in 16th century Japan. Shingen, a powerful warlord, is mortally wounded in battle and orders his followers to find a double to replace him, in order to keep his death a secret and thus avert an enemy attack. The "shadow warrior" chosen is a petty criminal who must transform himself into a great leader in order to command the allegience of 25,000 samurai warriors. Cast includes Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki and Kenichi Hagiwara; directed by Akira Kurosawa. In Japanese, with English subtitles.  Akira Kurosawa.  Fox Videos.  1980.

Ugetsu