Spring Cleaning -- Kagemusha, The Shadow Warrior

Fucked if I know why I put off watching this film for so long (I ordered it last year from Amazon). I think it's probably because I feared that this was one of Kurosawa's lesser films. I should have reminded myself that a man such as Kurosawa didn't have lesser films, rather films that some like better than others. I should have known that the master would not disappoint.

Another more likely reason for putting off watching Kagemusha is its running time, 2 hours and 40 minutes. I don't mind long films (prefer them, actually), but with the little girl it's often hard to find that kind of time.

As part of my resolution to finally watch all the unwatched DVDs in my collection, yesterday I found "that kind of time." It wasn't easy, either. You try shooting a kid with a tranquilizer dart and not have it weigh on your conscience.

In brief, Kagemusha is the story of a petty thief who is saved from crucifiction in order to become the body double of Shingen, who is the head of the Takeda clan. Shingen is mortally wounded, and his dying wish is that no one knows of his demise until 3 years have passed. Thusly, the kagemusha, or double, is asked to pretend he is Shingen -- even to Shingen's son and mistresses. And I thought feigning heterosexuality was hard!

Ahem. So the kagemusha adapts to his role as shadow warrior, and the ultimately tragic story unfolds from there. If you're a fan of Kurosawa, I don't have to tell you that the film looks gorgeous. The opening scene, and the following one in which a muddied soldier runs past scores and scores of stationary soldiers, are both cool. Another particulary memorable scene is a cheap-looking, yet unmistakably bold and effective, dream sequence. Of course, saying Kurosawa films look beautiful is kind of like saying David Lynch movies are confusing. If you are a fan of the master, the camera work definitely won't disappoint.

What I found most refreshing about Kagemusha, however, is that it avoids all the cliches that go hand-in-hand with movies of this kind. I was expecting the shadow warrior to become a Tony Montaesque figure: a poor guy who is given an opportunity to become big time, and whose fatal flaw is jealousy and greed. Instead, the kagemusha is a timid man, who at first declines Shingen's retainers' invitation to become the Takeda clan leader's double. And even after he accepts the role, he is haunted. There is a poignant and provocative monologue by Shingen's brother, Nobukado, which gives some insight into how a man playing the role of another feels. The film seems to suggest that it is the ideal or symbol of greatness that is important, and that the will and power of a man can live much longer on earth than the time in which he inhabits it. It also shows how we tend to accept individuals based on titles, rather than who or what those people truly are. When the kagemusha is finally revealed as an imposter, he is pelted with rocks by the same subjects who not long before followed his every whim.

The film is long, but it could have been 14 hours and still would have held my attention. That's Kurosawa for you. I remember the first time I watched Seven Samurai, not knowing how long it is. It certainly didn't seem to be 3 1/2 hours long. That's how engaging Kurosawa's films are.

Some final thoughts:

1) Those retainers sure were good at keeping a secret. Someone should get them to watch over the next radiohead album, to make sure doesn't get leaked to the 'Net before its release date.

2) Japanese soldiers must have spent a shitload of time making banners.

3) I thought during the film that the score was lackluster, but it finally grabbed me at the end. Great ending, by the way. Great film.

4/4*_*

Current "To Watch" List

Seven Samurai
Scarface
Once Upon a Time in America
Gangs of New York
Full Metal Jacket
2046
Casino