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Based on Honobu Yonezawa's novel. Set in 16th century Japan, follows Lord Murashige Araki who, besieged in his castle, confronts mysterious crimes and allies with imprisoned strategist Kanbei Kuroda to uncover the truth. (NR, 147 min.)
(TBD)
When Lord Murashige rises up against the tyrannical Oda, he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda's army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei, a brilliant and dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon, as he must outwit his enemies and uncover the truth before time runs out.
Starring: Masahiro Motoki, Masaki Suda, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Joe Odagiri, Munetaka Aoki, Ryota, Miyadate, Tasuku Emoto
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Genre: Mystery, Drama
"A spellbinding, gripping and intriguing murder mystery."
— Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
"Intricate, enthralling, and as psychologically rich as his best work, it’s another feather in the illustrious artist’s cap."
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
"Kurosawa has made one of his best films, a work that feels a bit like Agatha Christie, a bit like Shakespeare, and even a bit like Samurai Columbo."
— Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
"Kurosawa's latest is a masterwork in form and function, a spellbinding blend of genres that thrills from the opening shot to the inevitable conclusion."
— Joonatan Itkonen, Region Free
"The brilliance of The Samurai and the Prisoner lies in how Kurosawa thoughtfully uses genre to interrogate the often irrational motivations behind violence."
— Brian Eggert, Deep Focus Review
"Kurosawa’s highly entertaining adaptation knows that just because you are chained does not make you a prisoner, any more than having wealth and power can reliably make you free."
— Jessica Kiang, Variety
"Kurosawa continues to prove himself as a vital contemporary master of the craft that explores the essential fabric of his past and present in order to understand the future that is coming."
— Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch
"The Samurai and the Prisoner is intelligent, intriguing and captivating throughout its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, with sturdy storytelling, immaculate production design and suitably spartan camerawork."
— Clarence Tsui, South China Morning Post
"It shows off the enduring Japanese respect for the classic English murder mystery, while also allowing Kurosawa to advance its themes with straight-bat dialogue that recalls Masaki Kobayashi at his most didactic."
— Mark Asch, Little White Lies
"In each mesmerizing move of the camera or precisely-framed shot, he draws us in closer and closer until we can practically feel the grass under our feet while he simultaneously keeps his sharp eye on the bigger picture."
— Chase Hutchinson, TheWrap
"Kurosawa finds in Murashige a formidable analog; anchored as it may be to a rich, illustrious cinematic lineage, The Samurai and the Prisoner feels at once retro and rebellious—a loving tribute from one disruptor to another."
— Leonardo Goi, The Film Stage
