The Samurai I Loved 2005 AnimEigo Official Japanese Website Buy It Now

Asian cinema has become a variety of mix-matched results for me. While many of Asia’s foreign films have pioneered new horizons in the film industry, American filmmakers in Hollywood have conquered much of those frontiers. It is no secret that most foreign film’s lack the big budget power that makes many action, science fiction, and fantasy movies so visually appealing. Graphics aside, foreign films continue to perfect the elements that they can work with. It doesn’t take but a couple of sample Asian films to see the higher quality in story elements such as setting, plot, and characterization that far surpass much of the American movies flooding the market every week. I would easily take a solid plotline over flashy visuals. I enjoy actors that can truly embody the character versus filling the spot with a pretty face because it draws fans. While foreign films may get bad rep for low production investment, they are serving quality filmwork with much more to offer than graphic presentation.

I think all of that explanation sounds much more like an excuse defending Asian cinema, but it needed to be said, especially in regards to The Samurai I Loved. A typical defense for the foreign-film phobic is that they do not want to read during a film for fear of missing something important. The beauty of many of today’s movies from across the ponds is that they are dramas built by dialogue.

The Samurai I Loved follows Bunshiro and his fall and rise as a member of a samurai family. Bunshiro grows up learning swordsmanship at the local dojo. Excelling in the art, he is expected to follow the footsteps of his father and become a servant of the government. After his father sides on the losing end of a political feud, the family is shamed and stripped of their assets. Bunshiro’s father placed on trial is handed seppuku as punishment. With his father’s ritualistic suicide, Bunshiro is left with little. His love Fuku is also kept inside to prevent her interaction with Bunshiro. Continuing his study of the sword, he works his way back into the good graces of the province’s lord and is given a position as crop inspector. Working throughout, Bunshiro hears rumor of political trouble, and the same plot that doomed his father now threatens to take the life of his former love.

The tale of Bunshiro in terms of continuity is solid. Point A leads to Point B and so on. There is, however, a general tone about the story that makes it rather predictable at times. With little uniqueness in the plot, the main attraction to this movie is the effort of the actors and the settings. Truly, the parts played in this movie are what carried the title to so much acclaim. Generic as it may seem, emotional moments and the strife of misfortune all hit home. There is also the setting to consider. The Samurai I Loved offers an excellent presentation of scenery that highly compliments the mood and atmosphere of each scene. Some pieces might seem awkward but the vividness works well and shows a real working set. These points work mutually to create a wonderful drama worth watching more than once.

The movie comes packed with extra features which is always a plus in my book. Including an interview with Director Mitsuo Kurotsuchi, the extras take time to give insight into people behind the production, as well as, offer a bit of information about the film. The all around package together with the film offers a more realistic view into the Japanese lifestyle before westernization.

I know several people are going to scoff at the film because it is drama with little action and all subtitles. I am sure this is probably the same group that hasn’t touched a book in several years either. Drama is built by character interactions and dialogue; The Samurai I Loved takes a generic story and makes it something worthwhile. This is one of the instances where text-reading prejudices needs to be put aside long enough to get into the movie. Sure, it is romantic and heartfelt, along with other “nice” words, but even passed the touchy feely moments you can see how dramas are supposed to play out. It is not accomplished by flashy events or incredible graphics; instead, people playing the roles make all the difference. Maybe, set aside the summer blockbuster and reevaluate film while watching something of a different kind of quality.

-James-