Written in December 2009 Wrote this after viewing the wonderful film "The Twilight Samurai" (directed by Yamada Yoji). Initially wrote a short review but ended up wanting to write something more in-depth.  WARNING: Possible spoilers for the film!

Twilight Samurai: Born a Samurai, Live a Father, Die a Samurai

The Conflict Between Duty and Family Within Iguchi Seibei

Even to the casual viewer, it is obvious that Twilight Samurai is different from many other samurai-themed films. A clear indication of this is the fact that there are only two duel scenes in the entire film. It instead concentrates on showing the main character’s everyday struggles. Director Yamada Yoji makes his intentions regarding Twilight Samurai particularly clear in an interview, where he draws a parallel between modern Japanese workers who have devoted or sacrificed their lives for the sake of the company and samurai of the Tokugawa period. He states, “Isn’t losing one’s life fighting for the domain or for your country totally meaningless? I wanted to depict a samurai who has another basis for life.” (Muranaka 7) This is his motivation behind constructing the character “Twilight” Seibei. He is unkempt, lacks ambition, and to his associates a mockery of the samurai ideal. And yet, Yamada depicts him as a man far nobler than any other, for Seibei indeed lives for another purpose: his family. And in so doing he shows that Seibei is in fact able to accomplish, contrary to the views of others, being both a good samurai and an excellent father. Continue reading PAPER: Twilight Samurai →