The Twilight Samurai (Tasogare Seibei) (2002)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bob S

  
  Touching, low-key melodrama on the personal side of a japanese warrior / salaryman. Bonus points for cool alternate language titles: Le Samouraï du Crépuscule and Samurai in der Dämmerung.

• Dean M

  
  Awesome Japanese 'Jane Austen' samurai drama flick. The direction of the film is beautifully impressionist. Yôji Yamada crafts pictures of everyday life which gives us an inherent understanding of the life of Seibei Iguchi (Hiroyuki Sanada), a low-ranking widowed samurai… More
  Awesome Japanese 'Jane Austen' samurai drama flick. The direction of the film is beautifully impressionist. Yôji Yamada crafts pictures of everyday life which gives us an inherent understanding of the life of Seibei Iguchi (Hiroyuki Sanada), a low-ranking widowed samurai with a senile mother and two daughters, working in the castle's stores and taking in piecework to get by. Sanada is really a marvel to watch; he adds a very sensible depth and modesty to the character, and infuses it with some understated comic acting as well. As his returning childhood friend, Rie Miyazawa has a beautiful, spirited feminity that makes Sanada seem even more of a macho hunk in contrast.

• Jan Marc M

  
  The Twilight Samurai tells of gentle tale of the sacrifices of a determined father and brave warrior who is burdened, but refuses to succumb to the weight of his responsibilities to his family and clan. Impressive perspective on Japanese history and tradition. Skillful performances… More
  The Twilight Samurai tells of gentle tale of the sacrifices of a determined father and brave warrior who is burdened, but refuses to succumb to the weight of his responsibilities to his family and clan. Impressive perspective on Japanese history and tradition. Skillful performances and cinematography. Precise emotions. Profound insights. Stunning.

• El Hombre I

  
  A rather quiet film, The Twilight Samurai is a gentle, insightful, beautiful piece about a widower who works as a dull accountant for a war lord. And, oh yes, he happens to be a hell of a good swordsman when necessary. He reluctantly fights and only seeks to do exactly enough to halt… More
  A rather quiet film, The Twilight Samurai is a gentle, insightful, beautiful piece about a widower who works as a dull accountant for a war lord. And, oh yes, he happens to be a hell of a good swordsman when necessary. He reluctantly fights and only seeks to do exactly enough to halt the attacks. All that might seem to be code words for dull, but Twilight Samurai is a fascinating, unique and thought provoking glimpse into the life of a low-ranking Samurai. Highly recommended for any fan of samurai films. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=TwilightSamurai-002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/TwilightSamurai-002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• xGary X

  
  This Oscar nominated historical drama stars Hiroyuki Sanada as a junior samurai with far less interest in battle than caring for his young daughters and senile mother causing him to be a source of amusement to his colleagues and embarrassment to his extended family. This is a very… More
  This Oscar nominated historical drama stars Hiroyuki Sanada as a junior samurai with far less interest in battle than caring for his young daughters and senile mother causing him to be a source of amusement to his colleagues and embarrassment to his extended family. This is a very thoughtful period piece set during times of change towards the end of the feudal period of Japan's history. Hiroyuki Sanada puts in a very sensitive performance as the unwilling swordsman who is humble and selfless in his ambitions; this in fact is the crux of the story, rather than glory and action. There is in fact very little action to speak of, although the final duel is brilliantly done. It is more an elegant period drama cum love story about a man's struggle for dignity in adverse conditions and the wonderfully understated performances and direction make for a delightfully artful experience. The absence of blood and guts may disappoint those looking for an action packed hack and slasher, but those seeking something more cerebral will find plenty to enjoy. A finely made and intelligent story very much in the tradition of Kurosawa in general, and the likes of Red Beard in particular.

• Tsubaki S

  
  The harsh ways of the samurai life. No glamour or heroic battles, just a man trying to survive in a very elitist society.

• danny d

  
  the great underdog story. a man who should struggle between the path of glory and being a good father, he really doesnt struggle at all. fatherhood comes first for the main character much to the suprise of the other samurai. a story about a man who seems lost to all around him but… More
  the great underdog story. a man who should struggle between the path of glory and being a good father, he really doesnt struggle at all. fatherhood comes first for the main character much to the suprise of the other samurai. a story about a man who seems lost to all around him but really only cares for what he loves.

• Aaron N

  
  Ito: With a sick wife, two young daughters and an aged mother in his care, my father was unable to drink with his colleagues. He had to hurry home every evening at dusk. I was told the men he worked with gave him the cruel nickname of 'Twilight Seibei'. Twilight Samurai is… More
  Ito: With a sick wife, two young daughters and an aged mother in his care, my father was unable to drink with his colleagues. He had to hurry home every evening at dusk. I was told the men he worked with gave him the cruel nickname of 'Twilight Seibei'. Twilight Samurai is about a man who despite having to seemingly struggle to go on in life, is still very happy just watching his children grow up. Hiroyuki Sanada stars as this man, a low level samurai who has lost his wife, has a senile mother, two young daughters, and a lot of debt to pay. He spends so much time on his family and his household, that he has no time to even clean up himself or fix he holes in his kimono. He eventually meets with an old childhood friend of his, Ms. Tamoe, who has recently divorced her violent husband. This leads to questioning Iguchi's ways of moving on from his dead wife as well as getting some extra help around the house by remarrying. However, Iguchi is to shy of a man to easily answer these questions. All of this leads up to a great third act where Iguchi is obligated to kill a fellow samurai has held himself up inside his house. This movie works great in pretty much every way. Sanada is wonderful as 'Twilight,' along with the rest of their actors. The story is great in focusing the hardships that are his life. The movie looks and sounds great and authentic. This could have easily been made by Kurosawa back in the 50s and be no different. My favorite part of this film comes from the way the final 30 minutes play out. Being that this is a samurai film, it is very slow paced, with this film in particular having almost no action, but its not that kind of film. However, for the few fights that there are, they do seem like a true struggle between men. Very well made Japanese film, that could easily be placed with the older classics of the 50s. Seibei Iguchi: 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.

• Mike N

  
  All you need to do this Easter is... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/easter.jpg[/img] ...Smile! *flies to Denver*

• Bill C

  
  Hiroyuki Sanada breaks from samurai movie tradition has a role as the clans lowest cast of retainers. Although skilled with a sword he chooses to take care of his daughters and his mother who suffers from Alzheimers over the money, glory and late nights on the town with the other… More
  Hiroyuki Sanada breaks from samurai movie tradition has a role as the clans lowest cast of retainers. Although skilled with a sword he chooses to take care of his daughters and his mother who suffers from Alzheimers over the money, glory and late nights on the town with the other retainers that he works with at the armory storing fish. Hiroyuki Sanada was the character that taught tom cruises character to sword fight in "The Last Samurai"-2003. A very well done heart-warming piece but really slow for samurai movies.

• Daisy M

  
  The Twilight Samurai is a story about a Samurai family, headed by a widower raising two daughters and his mother with Alzheimer. Not much action was captured in this film, still it shows how far Seibei has drifted from his professional vows. When he is called on to defend the honor… More
  The Twilight Samurai is a story about a Samurai family, headed by a widower raising two daughters and his mother with Alzheimer. Not much action was captured in this film, still it shows how far Seibei has drifted from his professional vows. When he is called on to defend the honor of his clan, his skill is resurrected although his heart is not in it. Beautifully filmed and dramatically staged, 'Twilight Samurai' will amuse, dazzle and delight you. Told from the perspective of his daughter reflecting on her life with her father, this sentimental tale will delight you with joy. I think the ending was a little abrupt for me and without a clear resolution. Maybe due to my lack of Japanese language skills it distracted me from this well-acted, set and costumed film. ( had subtitles but still) Tasogare Seibei" is a masterpiece from the director and writer Yoji Yamada, who is unfortunately unknown for me. I am not sure whether more of his films has been released, Im just interested in seeing more of his work.

• Anthony V

  
  Make not mistakes, this is not an action film, this is a brilliant drama deglamorizing the samurai mythos. Great direction, great performances and a great story.

• James B

  
  A touching tale about a not so ordinary Samurai.

• Jojo S

  
  A samurai film filmed from a different angle. It's about how the samurai culture is starting to decline and those of who have the real skills are losing their once glorious day of the old. This is a drama film--which is Hiroyuki Sanada's best area-- not action-packed.

Read all 14 featured audience ratings