The Twilight Samurai (Tasogare Seibei) (2004)
97%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
38 wins & 9 nominations total
The Twilight Samurai is a cinematic masterpiece that transcends the samurai genre with its deeply humane and bittersweet portrayal of a reluctant warrior. Director Yamada’s masterful touch creates a foggy rural world of hills, rivers, and trees in springtime that beautifully captures the end of an age. The film’s protagonist, a humble family man who goes against the grain of the stereotypical samurai archetype, is an affecting look at the vulnerable side of a warrior. The violence is kept firmly in its place and never allowed to take over, and the powerful pacifist message about a hero free from the supposedly innate male taste for violence is a small, respectful corrective to the genre. The Twilight Samurai is a story of a father who finds fulfillment in being a father, and it gives us just enough of a twist to make us realize this is not your regular romantic film. In short, The Twilight Samurai is a resolutely paced, atypical samurai movie that is a decent corrective to the genre and a must-see for any cinephile.
The Twilight Samurai is a movie that will make you feel all the feels. It’s got romance, drama, and even a little bit of action. But don’t worry, it’s not your typical samurai movie where everyone is jumping off walls and slicing each other up. Instead, it’s a beautiful and touching story about a man who just wants to be a good father and husband, but finds himself caught up in the politics of his time. The scenery is breathtaking and the acting is top-notch. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even learn a little something about life, then The Twilight Samurai is definitely worth checking out.
Production Company(ies)
Eisei Gekijo Hakuhodo Nippon Shuppan Hanbai K. K.
Distributor
Shochiku Films Ltd.
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Japan
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 9m
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Language(s):Japanese
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Country of origin:Japan
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 28, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Hiroyuki Sanada, Rie Miyazawa, Nenji Kobayashi, Ren Ôsugi, Hiroshi Kanbe, Min Tanaka, directed by Yôji Yamada, written by Yôji Yamada, Yoshitaka Asama, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Steven D Greydanus, Marta Barber, Roger Moore, Marc Savlov, Erik Lundegaard, Scott Von Doviak, Felicia Feaster, Amber Wilkinson, Walter Chaw, Brian Mckay, Louis Proyect, produced by Hiroshi Fukazawa, Ichirô Yamamoto, MPAA rating, samurai, feudal Japan, Seibei Iguchi, Tomoe Iinuma, Choubei Hisasaka, Toyotarou Kouda, Naota, Zenemon Yogo
Worldwide gross: $7,372,769
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,228,199
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,896
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,333,500
US/Canada gross: $559,765
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $928,405
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,206
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,573
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,219
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,617
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $8,292,813
Production budget ranking: 1,739
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,465,680
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$530,294
ROI to date (est.): -4%
ROI ranking: 1,419
Rie Miyazawa – Tomoe Iinuma
Nenji Kobayashi – Choubei Hisasaka
Ren Ôsugi – Toyotarou Kouda
Hiroshi Kanbe – Naota
Min Tanaka – Zenemon Yogo
Director(s)
Yôji Yamada
Writer(s)
Yôji Yamada, Yoshitaka Asama
Producer(s)
Hiroshi Fukazawa, Ichirô Yamamoto
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
38 wins & 9 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (70) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (1)
Deeply humane… a bittersweet, eloquent tribute to a man who is bent but not crushed beneath the weight of his various competing duties.
February 17, 2005 | Rating: A
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
The story sometimes slips into soapy territory, but when you think the schmaltz is going to ruin it, Yamada gives it just enough of a twist to make you realize this is not your regular romantic film.
September 24, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Beautifully captures the end of an age.
September 17, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
A determined, resolutely paced, and atypical samurai movie.
August 8, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A small, respectful corrective.
July 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Erik Lundegaard
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
An affecting look at the vulnerable side of a warrior
July 2, 2004
Scott Von Doviak
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
TOP CRITIC
Twilight Samurai contains a powerful pacifist message about a hero free from the supposedly innate male taste for violence.
February 4, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
There is violence — the gritty, bloody kind, not the balletic jumping off walls variety — but it is kept firmly in its place and never allowed to take over.
June 14, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
A story of a father who finds fulfillment in being a father.
May 28, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central
Yamada has a master’s touch, creating a foggy rural world of hills, rivers, and trees in springtime
January 13, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Don Willmott
Filmcritic.com
gives us a humble family man protagonist who goes against the grain of the stereotypical Samurai archetype
June 20, 2005 | Rating: 5/5
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
A masterpiece about a reluctant warrior
June 10, 2005
Louis Proyect
rec.arts.movies.reviews…
Plot
In 1860s Japan, a samurai named Seibei, disillusioned by his position in society and the death of his wife, is stirred from his malaise by the arrival of Tomoe, a woman he loved as a child, but the burdens of family, career, and social standings could keep Seibei from following his desires.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays the lead role of Seibei Iguchi, also appeared in the Hollywood films The Wolverine and Avengers: Endgame.
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