esrosedotblog

WHO'S WHO?

This mighty samurai film,

Kagemusha / The Shadow Warrior (1980)

by Akira Kurosawa is wonderful to watch and it is very long; three hours. I once held all films to the old 90 minute standard. I have relaxed some on this issue but this film pushes boundaries.

The story is simple. The samurai Lord needs a double. The Lord is unexpectedly killed. As he is dying he orders his people to set the double up as his standin for at least three years.

It is great to see the transformation of this simple man (he had been a petty thief) in the Lord's role.

They touch all the bases as far as making the scheme work. It is almost excruciating to watch the process. But, the office makes the man and he makes the grade, almost.

On the outside of this small drama there are great battles and incredible scenes of armies going to and fro.

Sometimes we are lost in the fog of war.

It is a monumental filming effort; costumes, scenery, extras. All of it.

The issue of identity and how it ties to leadership is thoroughly explored. When the double is in the Lord's clothing he is the Lord and men will die for him.

Out of those clothes, he is an outcast.

It is an old theme and a good one or it would not have lasted so long. It explains the power that dubious leaders hold even in the face of exposure as incompetents and criminals. We will not name names here.

I will give it a 5 out of Netflix5 when asked but it is hard work and a little more help with the various 'enemies' would have helped.