Dream on.

Who is the better man?  The scoundrel who is hanged because he is a petty thief or the revered warlord who killed his father, deposed his son and led many of his men to their death, just to be able to hang on to his position of power?  That question is asked within a couple of minutes and it sort of sums up the main theme of the film beautifully.  But it gets more complicated when the petty thief has to act as the double for the dying warlord.

This interesting conflict of personalities, of integrity versus loyalty, was why I was glued to the screen for the duration of Kurosawa’s Kagemusha (The Shadow Warrior).  But it’s not just the story or the themes that are on display, Akira Kurosawa is known for creating visual splendours and Kagemusha is a marvellous example of that.  The impression of movement and near-chaos suggested by his trademark zigzagging of warriors, his use of colour culminating in a fantastical nightmare sequence, it’s all a feast for the eyes.  No wonder this film is often included when discussing the greats of cinema.

Definitely a 5 out of 5 from me, and one which I would love to have in my own library.

Adrian