Shiba, a wandering ronin, encounters a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of their dictatorial magistrate, in hopes of coercing from him a reduction in taxes. Shiba takes up their fight, joined by two renegades from the magistrate's guard, Sakura and Kikyo. The three outlaws find themselves in a battle to the death.
Direction
Gosha's claustrophobic scope—intimate yet explosive.
Cinematography
CinemaScope mud, blood, and torchlight that stings.
Acting
Tamba's thousand-yard stare defines weary heroism.
Director
Hideo Gosha
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gosha made this for television, then blew it up to CinemaScope—explaining the tight, sweaty intensity that feels bigger than its budget.
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