The Twilight Samurai

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The Twilight Samurai

2002,

2h 9m,

Drama

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Watchlist

99%

69 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 1860s Japan, samurai Seibei (Hiroyuki Sanada) lives in a rural village with his mother and daughters, where he is stuck working as a bookkeeper rather than a warrior. Disillusioned by his position in society and the death of his wife, Seibei finally is stirred from his malaise by the arrival of Tomoe (Rie Miyazawa), a woman he loved as a child. His feelings for her are still strong, but the burdens of family, career and social standing could keep Seibei from following his desires.

Critics Consensus

Samurai epic as a touching drama.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Feb 17, 2005

A

Deeply humane... a bittersweet, eloquent tribute to a man who is bent but not crushed beneath the weight of his various competing duties.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Aug 8, 2004

4/5

A determined, resolutely paced, and atypical samurai movie.

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Erik Lundegaard

Seattle Times

Jul 23, 2004

3.5/4

A small, respectful corrective.

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

Feb 4, 2020

Twilight Samurai contains a powerful pacifist message about a hero free from the supposedly innate male taste for violence.

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Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

Jun 14, 2008

4/5

There is violence -- the gritty, bloody kind, not the balletic jumping off walls variety -- but it is kept firmly in its place and never allowed to take over.

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

May 28, 2007

4/4

A story of a father who finds fulfillment in being a father.

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Leia G

Feb 4, 2019

We're used to samurai being portrayed as superhuman warriors, but here's a very different take, and a very different kind of hero, who couldn't be more reluctant to unsheathe his sword. Hiroyuki Sanada's performance in the title role is mesmerising - he's so ridiculously likeable that I found myself hoping NOT to see full-throttle sword fighting because I didn't want him to get hurt. I wouldn't recommend the film to those watch samurai films for the fighting as there's hardly any of that kind of action - instead there's a very real, interesting character, who happens to be a samurai, and whose fate is far more interesting than any number of beautifully choreographed battles.

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George S

Jan 15, 2019

No chop-socky nonsense, no flying fighters, just an excellent film.

Finn S

Dec 2, 2017

Touching and powerful yet humble. A story about a samurai who knows who he is and what he values. His unique perspective allows him to find happiness in the wake of personal tragedy and within the confines of feudalistic Japanese hierarchy. I can't articulate just how heroic this character is. The swordwork really serves the story well and is as always, a treat to watch from Sanada Sensei.

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Rey W

Jul 28, 2017

Not an epic, but a simple story of love, suffering, family, death full of humanism. You will be pleasantly surprised. "A serious fight, the killing of a man, requires animal ferocity and calm disregard for one's own life. I have neither of those within me now."

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Yôji Yamada

Director

Hiroyuki Sanada

Seibei Iguchi

Rie Miyazawa

Tomoe Iinuma

Nenji Kobayashi

Choubei Hisasaka

Ren Ôsugi

Toyotarou Kouda

Hiroshi Kanbe

Naota

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Synopsis

In 1860s Japan, samurai Seibei (Hiroyuki Sanada) lives in a rural village with his mother and daughters, where he is stuck working as a bookkeeper rather than a warrior. Disillusioned by his position in society and the death of his wife, Seibei finally is stirred from his malaise by the arrival of Tomoe (Rie Miyazawa), a woman he loved as a child. His feelings for her are still strong, but the burdens of family, career and social standing could keep Seibei from following his desires.

Director: Yôji Yamada
Producer: Hiroshi Fukasawa, Ichirô Yamamoto
Screenwriter: Yôji Yamada, Yoshitaka Asama
Distributor: Shochiku Films Ltd.
Production Co: Hakuhodo Incorporated
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2002, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Dec 28, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA): $529.2K
Runtime: 2h 9m

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