Samurai Rebellion

Name: Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 h 8 min
Rating: 8.3
Cast: Toshirô Mifune, Yôko Tsukasa, Gô Katô

Original title: Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

14K

YOUR RATING

Toshirô Mifune in Samurai Rebellion (1967)

Period Drama Drama

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to... Read allThe mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.

Director
- Masaki Kobayashi
Writers
- Shinobu Hashimoto
- Yasuhiko Takiguchi
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

14K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Masaki Kobayashi
Writers
- Shinobu Hashimoto
- Yasuhiko Takiguchi
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 7 wins & 1 nomination

Trivia
Most of the samurai in the film can be seen carrying two blades. This was a practice in Edo Japan known as daisho. Translated this literally means 'big-little'. The bigger blade was the katana, which was generally used for combat and duelling. The short sword was either the wakizashi or the tanto, the latter of which is most customarily associated with the ritual suicide of seppuku or Harakiri (translated as 'belly cut').

Goofs
At 1:13:16 into the Criterion Collection DVD version, when the shot changes to Yogoro (played by Gô Katô)---just as he begins to verbally caution the lord and his retainers (after having delivered the petition)---there is a boom mic bobbing up and down about 10 inches above Gô's head, just on the edge of the frame. Then, in the same shot, as Gô is rising to his feet, the mic can be seen in front of his forehead. The mic then casts a shadow on his forehead just before the shot changes to a closeup of his face.

Quotes
Isaburo Sasahara: Each must live his own life.

Connections
Featured in Film Review: International Films (1968)

User reviews61

Review

Featured review

10/10

Wonderful

Samurai Rebellion is one of the best films I've ever seen. Masaki Kobayashi is my favorite Japanese director next to Kurosawa, at times even surpassing the latter. Samurai Rebellion is a well-acted, brilliantly directed film about standing up against injustice that manages to tug firmly on one's heart strings without ever being cloying. Mifune shows the full extent of his acting abilities by not having to play the sort of macho character that he came quite close to being typecast as, and Yôko Tsukasa is no less remarkable. The soundtrack by Toru Takemitsu is also wonderful, serving to add another layer to the film's narrative and emotional impact rather than merely emphasizing it. Another remarkable aspect of the film is the use of violence: Although the fight scenes near the end are brilliantly choreographed and filmed, they're not in the least glamourous, depicting the desperation, sadness and anger of Mifune's character. It's a terrible shame that most people will never see this film, one that most likely deserves to be considered a classic of world cinema, just because it isn't directed by Kurosawa.