Kagemusha
影武者
1980JapanLanguage: jaDirected by Akira Kurosawa★ 7.8
Available in English: subtitled
Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
Themes and style
Tone
melancholichauntingbleakcold and detached
Pacing
slow burnmethodicalslow build to explosion
Story
warcon deceptionsurvivalunraveling
Emotion
figuring out who you areloyalty under pressureloss of innocencegrieffeeling powerless
Themes
class and moneyfamily wounds passed downnational identitylife under oppressionfamily duty
Feel
cerebralquietly hauntingdiscussion starterexhaustingcathartic
Violence
graphic