Review of BUSHIDO (SHUNDU) 2013

A young man gifted in swordsmanship but short in patience begs his teacher and his lord to allow him to travel to the neighboring domain to study swordsmanship further. Meanwhile, his clan leaders fear the annihilation of their entire domain after years of hiding fields, grain warehouses, and surplus funds from the Shogunate. These two plots will collide with the ugliest consequences as BUSHIDO unfolds.

Such circumstances bring to mind other productions: For instance, the hidden fields and crops in the NHK taiga drama NAOTORA, and the young swordsman desperate for a domain pass in the taiga, RYOMADEN. But these were indeed rather common occurrences at the time.

Director Yasuo Mikami films 95 percent of the movie in washed out colors bordering on black and white. Did he choose to do so because he knew the final act would feature endless fields of snow? The audience will feel surrounded by pale faces and grey vegetation for hours. An occasional orange hue breaks through by candle light.

All the higher ups act with minimalist performances bordering on the robotic. Tomohito Wakazaki’s performance as a wronged young man saves the film. He perfectly embodies all of Kagawa’s flaws and strengths as well as performing ably and believably the incredible stuntwork required. Tamao Sato brings warmth as his sister Yuki, and Takehiro Hira (SHOGUN, RENT A FAMILY) anchors the role of his teacher put into an impossible situation.

A malignant irony dwells at the center of the story: Kagawa is the son of a man who sacrificed himself for the clan a generation ago. And Kagawa is headstrong and unhappy because he always believed his father was wrong to give so much for the clan. His frustrated heart lands him into trouble when the clan lords return to the same well to save themselves.

Most samurais’ lives were grim. Bushido, the warrior’s code was grim. This film is nothing if not grim. It may not be your cup of tea, but it does not commit false advertising. Mikami does not rush the story. Most of the combat is verbal, but the final fight lives up to all the hype and can be compared with the greatest cinematic duels such as the climax of ROB ROY.

REEL JAPAN

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