Bushido
review by Bobby Blakey
Samurai films have a long history in cinema and when done right they can be epic, full of history and even emotional. For years the genre ruled Asian cinema, but sadly we just don’t get near as many anymore. Thankfully director of The Devil’s Path and 11 Rebels, Kazuya Shiraishi, looks to take audiences back to the classic cinema with Bushido. The film stars Masachika Ichimura, Kaya Kiyohara, Kyôko Koizumi, Jun Kunimura, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Taishi Nakagawa, Eita Okuno, Takuma and Otoo Takumi Saitô, but does it capture the code of the samurai, or will it bring dishonor to itself?
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Bushido follows Taciturn Kakunoshin, renowned for his formidable skills both with a sword and in the game of go, who embodies the purest ideals of the samurai code. But when his unwavering honesty is exploited, he is framed by his own clan for a theft he did not commit. Disgraced and forced to become a ronin, he survives as a humble seal maker, quietly supporting his grown daughter while burying the wounds of betrayal. Years later, when a case of missing gold pulls him into a new web of intrigue, Kakunoshin finally uncovers the truth behind his long-buried downfall. With the real culprit exposed, the restraint that once defined him shatters. The go board flips, and a hell storm of righteous vengeance follows.
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Loving this genre, I was instantly interested but wasn’t sure what variation we were going to be getting. The samurai films obviously bring some action, but a lot of them lean into the political and historical lore and honor more than anything else. This one is just that with a few pieces of action, but mostly about the code and struggles to maintain it through the circumstances brought on them. This is not an action movie in any form and does a have a very slow pace, but it is intentional in respect to the story that focuses more on the game of go than the normal swordplay. This easily could have been a misfire, but it is shot so beautifully it might as well be martial arts action.
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The cast all slowly walk through this story and their performances with purpose, and you can feel it at every turn. I never would have expected that some of the best moments in this film would be the gameplay. It’s shot with detail and suspense that is fully engaging whether you know how the game is played or not. Each moment of gameplay fuels the next stage of the story in betrayal, honor, anger and everything in between. It has no business working and being as interesting as it is, but that’s just a testament to the filmmaking itself.
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I will say that the small amount of actual action via sword duels is average but fits the narrative of realism they were going for. The fights aren’t highly stylized or exciting and even sloppy at times, but it felt more like some of these fights might actually play out. I was hoping for some more impactful ultimate showdowns in the end, but instead it sticks to the tone it creates and allows the way of the samurai stand in front as opposed to just trying to appease those like me just wanting to see more action.
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In the end I appreciated this decision and found this film to be engaging and interesting in its execution with just enough redemption, honor and true human nation reaction to make it something bigger than it might have been otherwise. It won’t be for everyone, but I encourage you to check it out and decide for yourself.
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Bushido is in theaters now from Film Movement.