by dandan » Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:56 pm
the hidden blade - following on from 'twiligt samurai'...
yamada yoji's second film in his own samurai trilogy; a turbulent story of love and friendship. katagiri is a samurai of low standing, his father's suicide hangs above his family and when an old friend becomes involved in a plot against the clan, life becomes even tougher. katagiri's situation isn't helped by his relationship with kie, a girl who had lived with the katagiri family before getting married; a marriage becomes abusive.
a beautifully crafted tale that weaves together love and drama, in front of a backdrop of the politics of the samurai as western ideals begin to make their mark. moving, at times amusing and engaging throughout.
recommended.[/b]