Twilight Samurai, The

aka: Tasogare Seibei
Japan 2002, 129 minutes
Dir. Yoji Yamada
In Japanese with English subtitles
Rating: [M]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama / Martial Arts

Feat. Hiroyuki Sanada, Ren Osugi, Rie Miyazawa, Nenji Kobayashi

Aroview: Boldly subverting the masculine cliches of the genre, this refreshing and highly rewarding Samurai drama follows a dishevelled, low-status widower trying to raise his daughters amid bitter clan politics and warrior redundancies of Edo-era 19th century Japan.

Though not without superb combat sequences, this fosters most tension out of its protagonist trying to maintain dignity and integrity in a climate of poverty and corruption.