Set at the end of the Siege of Osaka this film follows the exploits of several members of the defeated Toyotomi clan as they cope with the post battle chaos and the persecution of the Shogun's army. Five samurai decide on different fates when it becomes clear that their side is being destroyed. One wants to attack the enemy head on in a final honorable death. Another decides to commit hari-kiri but wants to find a glorious view to do it. His close friend, the "coward", just wants to run and give up the life of a samurai. The final two set their own castle on fire to garner favors from the enemy and therefore avert their own death during the massacre of all defeated soldiers as
Acting
Mifune's exhausted nobility against Hirata's unraveling pride.
Cinematography
Burning castle as funeral pyre for an entire era.
Direction
Inagaki stages defeat like a wounded dance.
Director
Hiroshi Inagaki
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Set during the 1615 fall of Osaka, which ended the Toyotomi clan and cemented Tokugawa's 250-year rule—this is literally watching a culture die.
Inagaki made this between his Musashi trilogy and Red Lion, using the same crew to basically ask 'what if the hero LOST?'
JP
