The Twilight Samurai Page #4

Synopsis: Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai, leads a life without glory as a bureaucrat in the mid-XIX century Japan. A widower, he has charge of two daughters (whom he adores) and a senile mother; he must therefore work in the fields and accept piecework to make ends meet. New prospects seem to open up when Tomoe, his long-time love, divorces a brutal husband. However, even as the Japanese feudal system is unraveling, Seibei remains bound by the code of honour of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedences. The consequences are cruel.
Genre: Drama, History
Director(s): Yôji Yamada
Production: Empire Pictures
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 37 wins & 7 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.1
Metacritic:
82
Rotten Tomatoes:
99%
Year:
2002
129 min
Website
369 Views


Rise in the world, she told me

or my family will grieve

She said that all the time

after she got sick

I don't want to put Tomoe

through that torment

Tomoe's not 15 or 16

I'm sure she'd thought about

what she said

No more

Let's forget this

Let's try up there

It's a girl!

what a stink!

Rise to Lord Buddha

Eat your fill in heaven!

Let's call it a day

From that day forward

Miss Tomoe stopped coming...

...to our house

Make way!

Stand aside!

Turning left!

The warden has returned!

Go!

what's that?!

It's the alarm!

Stop what you're doing and listen

I have important news

from Lord Hori, Castle warden...

...who returned

this morning from Edo

The 12th head of the Unasaka Clan

Lord Tadatomo, died of measles...

...at the beginning of this month

He was 32 years old

He was a good and wise ruler

intelligent and tolerant...

...a true hero

Only last spring we had

the honor of meeting him...

...and having him speak to us

Iguchi, you haven't

forgotten that, I'm sure

what a fine and gentle man

he was!

Senior retainers will

remain in the castle

The rest of you are to leave and pray

for the repose of His Lordship's soul

This could mean open war!

I doubt that...

...but Lord Hori's sure to go after

His Lordships reformers

Dispositions'?

Yes

which side is

our Commissioner on?

The reformers

or the Hori faction?

He'll be with the mainstream

Just like me

while there were fearsome rumors

that the Castle was preparing for war...

...it didn't seem to involve

petty samurai like my father

All right?

we wanted to ask Father

why Miss Tomoe no longer came...

...but for some reason

we couldn't

This was because even in

our children's hearts...

...we knew something

had happened between them

Squire Iguchi!

I'm sorry you've come for nothing

My husband isn't back from Edo

I expect him in a day or two

Has he written anything about

what's happening in Edo?

No

There was a letter yesterday...

...but all he talked about was what

he wants to eat when he gets home

That's good

I'm sure you know

they're handing down dispositions

Some people have even been

ordered to commit suicide

I was worried about what

might have happened to Iinuma

I'm happy to hear he's all right

Give him my regards

when he gets home

You came just for that?

Yes

Good day

It was very kind of you

Carry on

where's Squire Iguchi?

He went away

where are you going?

Squire Iguchi may still be

close by

why do you want to see him?

No reason in particular

I haven't seen him for a while

I'd like to say hello

wait!

Tomoe...

...it is unseemly for

a young woman to be seen talking...

...with some samurai on the street

And you are a returned bride

with a proposal being discussed

You shouldn't be doing that

in broad daylight with people around

I've been meaning to tell you that

for a long time now

what's wrong with a girl

talking to a samurai?

Are you questioning

your elder brother's wife?

Shouldn't I?

You should not

A young women

does not question her elders

with 60 from last month

that comes to 550 mon

Could I have a receipt?

You know the bath fee went up

to seven mon last month

Prices are going up everywhere

Could you pay more

for these cages?

with things as unsettled

as they are...

...no one's buying insect cages

Could you ask your boss

for me?

well, I'll ask

I take this work

as seriously as my duties

I understand that

If you'll excuse me

Come on

we're not thieves

we're just picking up some

insect cages from Squire Iguchi.

Is he doing piece-work?

Hello!

Hello!

who is it?

Commissioner Kusaka

It's very late, I know

I'd like you to accompany me

to Lord Hori's quarters

Yes, sir

They said you don't need

full formal dress

Just a hakama skirt

So you're Iguchi's girl?

How old are you?

Five

You're a sweetheart

I'm ready

Kayano... you all get to bed

Let's sleep

Seibei Iguchi

of the Castle Stores...

That'll do

Iguchi, come over here

we called you here this late because

an awkward situation has arisen

You know there was a revolt

among our retainers in Edo?

Yes, sir

Fortunately no word of this

reached the Shogun

His Lordship ordered Shima Hasegawa

and his faction to commit suicide

But one of Lord Hasegawa's men

Zenemon Yogo, Master of the watch...

...says he was merely following

the orders of his superior...

...asks why he should be punished

and refuses to commit suicide

If you want me dead

come and kill me,' he says!

And with these disgraceful words

has barricaded himself in his house

This evening we sent our Master

of Foot, Genba Hattori, against him

Zenemon Yogo! I come

at the order of the clan!

But he died himself

He's a 'one-sword' fighter

No one in the clan

is his match

we were talking about who

to send against him...

...and your name came up

Iguchi, raise your head

You're a 'short-sword' fighter

of the Toda school?

It's been years

since Toda-Sensei taught me

I merely attended his dojo

we don't have time

for modesty

we've learned that you were

an instructor at his dojo

He must be beaten inside his house

The short sword will help there

That is another reason

we have chosen you

Kill Zenemon Yogo

by twilight tomorrow

That is an order from

the clan's Senior Retainer

Kusaka... what's this man's stipend?

for a net of 30

That must be hard, with two young

daughters and an aged mother

Bring us the head

of Zenemon Yogo...

...and life will be easier

Do you accept?

Answer him

This is an honor

You shut up!

well?

By your leave...

I am ashamed to say that

over many years of hardship...

...with two daughters, a sick wife

and an aged mother...

...I have lost the desire

to wield a sword

A serious fight

the killing of a man...

...requires animal ferocity and

calm disregard for one's own life

I have neither of those

within me now

Perhaps in a month...

...alone with the beasts in the hills

I could get them back

But tomorrow, I am afraid

is completely impossible

I ask that you extend

the honor of this commission...

...to another man

what complete

and utter nonsense!

we are not here for foolishness

from a petty samurai!

Your clan orders you

to kill Yogo

Do you understand that?!

The Clan's orders are

His Lordship's orders

The very thought of refusal

is an offense!

You are relieved of your post!

You are expelled from the clan!

Please, warden...

what do you say, Iguchi?

Do you accept?

Of course he does!

Don't you!

May I request

an evening or two...

...in which to give my answer?

You may not!!

You will answer now!

I obey

I accept the commission...

...to kill Zenemon Yogo

well said!

An officer will call

at the hour of the snake

Have your preparations made

withdraw

Iguchi...

Don't worry. who's Zenemon

Yogo anyway?

You're sure to win

I have decided exactly that

Good

One should, however

always prepare for the worst

That's true. The worst

can always happen

In that event, Commissioner

this will be farewell

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Yôji Yamada

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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