I usually don’t watch foreign films because I have trouble reading subtitles while simultaneously trying to keep an eye on what’s happening on the screen. I invariably miss something important because I’m too intent on reading, so I have to rewind frequently and replay many scenes. (For the record, I can walk and chew gum at the same time!)
But occasionally, I’ll hear so many good things about a foreign film that it eventually becomes impossible for me to ignore the buzz. That was the case with the 2002 Japanese film called Tasogare Seibei, or The Twilight Samurai. Tasogare Seibei swept the Japanese equivalent of the Oscars when it came out, and I’ve been wanting to see it for a few years now. I finally got a chance to sit down with it a couple days ago, and let me tell you, it was definitely worth it!
Plot summary (with possible spoilers): The film is set in 19th century Japan just prior to the historical period known as the Meiji Restoration. It depicts the daily life of Seibei Iguchi (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), a poor samurai who has recently lost his wife to tuberculosis and is now responsible for raising his two daughters Kayano (Miki Ito) and Ito (Erina Hashiguchi) as well as caring for his senile mother (Reiko Kusamura).
By day, Seibei has a job as an accountant at the grain storehouse of the local samurai clan that he belongs to. Every evening at quitting time, Seibei’s colleagues invite him to go out for dinner and drinks with them, but Seibei politely declines — a habit that earns him the nickname “Tasogare Seibei” (twilight Seibei). Instead, he rushes home to take care of his girls and mother, and to do piecework to supplement his meager income.
Seibei’s life begins to change when he learns that his childhood friend Tomoe (Rie Miyazawa), a woman he has been in love with for as long as he can remember, returns to her family home after getting divorced from her abusive husband Koda (Ren Osugi). Tomoe comes to visit Seibei at his home, and after some initial awkwardness, they become friends again. Tomoe then comes more frequently, helping Seibei’s daughters with the housework and cooking, and generally turning his house into a home.
This domestic bliss doesn’t last long, as Koda comes looking for Tomoe and slaps her around a bit. Seeing this, Seibei challenges Koda to a duel, which the other man accepts. But since Seibei no longer has his long sword, he arrives armed with nothing but a wooden stick. He still defeats Koda, and word of his deed gets around the village.
A short time later, the clan has trouble with Yogo Zenemon (Min Tanaka) a rogue samurai who refuses to commit hara-kiri. This is viewed as disgraceful behavior, so the clan leader sends his best swordsman to force Yogo into suicide. However, Yogo won and is still living in defiance, so Seibei is ordered to fight him next.
After Tomoe helps dress Seibei for battle, he reluctantly heads out for the showdown with Yogo. The two samurai have an interesting conversation before they fight, with Seibei emerging as the winner. He returns home to a waiting Tomoe, and they get married shortly afterward.
My Reaction: I thought Tasogare Seibei was a beautifully understated film that was surprisingly engrossing. I say surprisingly because on the surface, it doesn’t seem like there’s a heck of a lot going on in the film. It’s not about swordsmanship, fighting, or anything that you’d normally expect from a movie about samurai. Instead, it’s about an honorable man whose simplicity, dignity, and humility set him well above his peers.
I found everything about this film to be first-rate, including the acting, directing, cinematography, pacing, and storyline. I usually get bored with “slow-moving” films that chronicle the daily life of the main character, but there was just something so completely different about this minimalistic approach, that I couldn’t help but be drawn into it.
It’s hard to articulate exactly why I liked this film so much. Words like “poignant,” “touching,” and “moving” come to mind, but those terms have been overused so much that they’ve lost most of their impact. So the only thing I can really say to you is that you simply must experience this film for yourself.
Overall, I thought Tasogare Seibei was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen in any genre. I give it 9.5 stars out of 10 and highly recommend that you check it out for yourself!