Tatsuya Nakadai, the world’s greatest living actor, returns to the screen in a brilliant adaptation of a story by novelist Shuhei Fujisawa. A traveling gambler known as “Funeral Uno” he is now 86 years old and returning to his hometown for the first time in 30 years. Partly told in flashbacks, he is forced to face his lifelong nemesis, Boss Kyuzo, a vile yakuza portrayed by another superstar of samurai cinema, Atsuo Nakamura! Before the two old gamblers can settle a 30-year-old score they must put their lives on the line in a game of dice that can only lead to a bloody sword duel the likes of which has never before been seen! Superb performances all around in a film loaded with surprises and exciting swordplay!
Acting
Nakadai's eyes alone carry 60 years of cinema history.
Direction
Sugita lets silence do the heavy lifting.
Director
Shigemichi Sugita
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Nakadai was 86 filming this—same age as his character, making every limp and pause unnervingly authentic.
Fujisawa's source stories often became Zatoichi films; this one became something far more elegiac.
JP
