Sometimes in the world of cinema there are extremely unusual collaborations. For example, the original British director Bernard Rose wrote and directed a Japanese samurai film called "Samurai Marathon" (Samurai Marathon).
Bernard Rose has been making films in various genres for over 20 years. His projects include horror films ("Candyman"), comedies (the "Inside Out" series), crime thrillers ("Chicago Joe and the Stripper"), dramas ("Immortal Beloved") and what not. But Rose is working with a samurai theme for the first time.
Synopsis: to prepare soldiers for possible attacks by foreign invaders, a marathon is held: 58 kilometers along mountain paths. Vassals join the competition to receive the promised prize. Meanwhile, the Edo government mistakes the marathon for treason and sends assassins to the "traitors." Jinnai Karasawa looks like an ordinary samurai, but in reality he is a spy for the central government. Jinnai learns of the misunderstanding and begins a desperate run to stop the killers.
The main role in the film was played by the star of the samurai trilogy "Vagabond Kenshin", as well as fantasy action films "Inuyashiki" и "Ajin: Half-Man" - Takeru Sato. The rest of the cast includes: Nana Komatsu ("Love on a special level"), Shota Sometani ("Punk Samurai Punch"), Ryu Kohata ("Fist of Legend: The Return of Chen Zhen"), Mirai Moriyama ("Anger"), Hiroki Hasegawa ("Predator"), Akira Koieyama (“47 Ronin”) and other actors.
The film has already been released in Japan 22 February 2019 year. While we wait to see the film for ourselves, you can check out the short trailer.
The next film in today's selection is again from Japan and again in the samurai action drama genre. Film company shōchiku presented a trailer for a film called "Sleeping Ivane" (Iwane: Sword of Serenity).
In another translation "Sword of Serenity" director Katsuhide Motoki (Kitaro, The Flying Tire) is based on a series of novels Saeki Yasuhida, which have already been filmed as a three-season series from NHK.
The film's plot tells the story of three friends: Ivane Sakazaki, Kinpei Kobayashi and Shinnosuke Kawada. They have been friends since childhood, as they trained in the same dojo. Kinpei's younger sister, Maya, marries Shinnosuke, and Iwane is preparing to marry the girl Nao. But the three friends have to go through a serious test of jealousy and hatred after Kawada finds out about Mai's betrayal and kills her.
Starring in the film: Tori Matsuzaka ("Blood of a Lone Wolf") Tasuku Emoto ("Your Bird Can Sing") Yosuke Sugino ("Waiting for Spring"), Fumino Kimura ("Heavenly Kiss") and Kyoko Yosine ("Falling Camellia").
The film will be released in its home country 17 May 2019 years.
Let’s not stray far from the samurai theme, especially since the next project we want to talk about is noticeable primarily by the name of the director.
It's about the movie "Love's Twisted Path" (Love's Twisting Path) classic Japanese cinema Sadao Nakajima, who has been working in cinema for almost sixty years. During this time, Nakajima-san shot in various genres, some of which he simply defined for decades to come. He worked in the genre of patriotic war films ("Kamikaze Diaries"), erotic thrillers ("Journey to Japan", "Love and Art"), social dramas ("Denim Blues: No Future"), crime dramas ("Escape from Siname Prison ", the series "The Japanese Godfather"), and, of course, samurai action films (the dilogy "The Adventures of Monjiro", "Traitors of the Ninja"). He is the director of the cult TV film "Ode to Nabunaga" (1992) with a whole galaxy of stars of that time, including Sonny Tiebout, Hiroyuki Sanadu, Mariko Fuji и Ken Watanabe.
"The Path" is his first directorial work in the last twenty years and in its genre belongs to the classic "jidaigeki".
The film will tell the love story between a ronin master named Tajuro and a tavern owner, Toyo, in a civil war setting at the end of the Edo period.
The main role went to the actor Kengo Cora (“Godzilla: Resurgence,” “Dare to Stop Us”), and the rest of the ensemble is filled out by: Mitako Tabe ("Every day is good"), Ryo Kimura ("Abandoned Rabbit") Masatoshi Nagase ("Hidden blade"), Asahi Kurizuka (“Bushido”, “Uzumasa Footlights”) and others.
The film has been going around film festivals since last year, and on April 12 this year the film was shown at the Kyoto International Film Festival. We hope that the film will still be released in wide release in 2019.
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Tags: Iwane: Sword of Serenity, Love's Twisting Path, Samurai Marathon, Akira Koieyama, Asahi Kurizuka, Bernard Rose, Yosuke Sugino, Katsuhide Motoki, Kyoko Yosine, Kengo Cora, Masatoshi Nagase, Mirai Moriyama, Mitako Tabe, Nana Komatsu, Ryo Kimura, Ryu Kohata, Sadao Nakajima, Shota Sometani, Takeru Sato, Tasuku Emoto, Tori Matsuzaka, Fumino Kimura, Hiroaki Hasegawa
Tags: Iwane: Sword of Serenity, Love's Twisting Path, Samurai Marathon, Akira Koieyama, Asahi Kurizuka, Bernard Rose, Yosuke Sugino, Katsuhide Motoki, Kyoko Yosine, Kengo Cora, Masatoshi Nagase, Mirai Moriyama, Mitako Tabe, Nana Komatsu, Ryo Kimura, Ryu Kohata, Sadao Nakajima, Shota Sometani, Takeru Sato, Tasuku Emoto, Tori Matsuzaka, Fumino Kimura, Hiroaki Hasegawa
It will be very interesting to watch. Modern Japanese samurai dramas delight, first of all, with their beautiful visual component. A very beautiful, rich, colorful picture gives aesthetic pleasure. And often the same pleasure comes from the battles, which, although few in number, are laconic and realistic. :)