The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
Coming Out at 6 September 2003 in theaters.
“Zatôichi”
Action, Comedy, Crime
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi is samurai drama/action film, directed, written, co-edited by and starring Takeshi Kitano (“Beat” Takeshi) in his 11th directorial venture. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman.
The film is a revival of the classic Zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas. It premiered on 2 September 2003 at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. It also stars Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura and Akira Emoto.
The film’s plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local yakuza gang war and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Meanwhile, Zatoichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two geisha siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. The siblings are the only survivors of a robbery and massacre that was carried out on their family estate ten years ago. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town.
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Writers: Takeshi Kitano, Kan Shimozawa (novels)
Stars: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Yui Natsukawa, Michiyo Yasuda, Yûko Daike
Cast:
| Takeshi Kitano | … | Zatôichi / Ichi |
| Tadanobu Asano | … | Hattori Genosuke |
| Michiyo Yasuda | … | Aunt Oume |
| Taka Guadalcanal | … | Shinkichi |
| Daigorô Tachibana | … | Geisha Seitaro ‘Osei’ Naruto |
| Yûko Daike | … | Geisha Okinu Naruto |
| Yui Natsukawa | … | O-Shino, Hattori’s Wife |
| Ittoku Kishibe | … | Boss Inosuke Ginzo |
| Saburô Ishikura | … | Boss Tashichi Ogi |
| Akira Emoto | … | Tavern Owner Pops |
| Ben Hiura | … | Tavern Gramps |
| Kohji Miura | … | Lord Sakai |
| Hideboh | … | Dancing Farmer |
| Ron II | … | Dancing Farmer |
| Suji | … | Dancing Farmer |
| Noriyasu | … | Dancing Farmer |
| Makoto Ashikawa | … | Carpenter |
| Tsumami Edamame | … | Carpenter |
| Kosuke Ohta | … | Carpenter |
| Yoshiyuki Morishita | … | Carpenter |
| Naomasa Musaka | … | Yakuza Boss on the Country Road |
| Shôken Kunimoto | … | Rival Swordsman |
| Daigaku Sekine | … | Ginzo’s Henchman I |
| Koji Koike | … | Boss Funahachi |
| Kôji Kiryû | … | Dice Dealer at Funahachi’s Joint |
| Taigi Kobayashi | … | Funahachi’s Bodyguard |
| Ayano Yoshida | … | Young O-Kinu |
| Taichi Saotome | … | Young O-Sei (Seitaro) |
| Kanji Tsuda | … | Playboy at Home |
| Ikki Goto | … | Kuchinawa Underling 1 |
| Yoshio Nakamura | … | Kuchinawa Underling 3 |
| Hiroaki Noguchi | … | Kuchinawa Underling 5 |
| Shinichi Nakatsu | … | Kuchinawa Underling 2 |
| Toru Yonezu | … | Kuchinawa Underling 4 |
| P. Man | … | Tavern Customer 4 |
| Al Kitago | … | Farmer Boy 1 |
| Omiya no Matsu | … | Farmer Boy 2 |
| Tsutomu Takeshige | … | Farmer Boy 4 |
| Gambino Kobayashi | … | Farmer Boy 5 |
| Sammy Moremore Jr. | … | Farmer Boy 6 |
| Muhômatsu | … | Farmer Boy with a Spear |
| Yasushi Higuchi | ||
| Ryûki Kitaoka | ||
| Isao Ogura | ||
| Masayoshi Ohzeki | ||
| Kenji Takechi | … | Yakuza |
| Yoji Tanaka |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia