Samurai Rebellion

Samurai Rebellion
Theatrical poster for Samurai Rebellion (1967)
Directed by	Masaki Kobayashi
Produced by	Toshiro Mifune Tomoyuki Tanaka
Written by	Shinobu Hashimoto Yasuhiko Takiguchi (novel)
Starring	Toshiro Mifune Yoko Tsukasa Tatsuyoshi Ehara Etsuko Ichihara Isao Yamagata Tatsuya Nakadai Shigeru Kôyama Michiko Otsuka
Music by	Tōru Takemitsu
Cinematography	Kazuo Yamada
Editing by	Hisashi Sagara
Distributed by	Toho Company Ltd. (Japan) Toho International Company Inc. (1967, USA)
Release date(s)	June 3, 1967 (Japan) December 1967 (USA)
Running time	128 min. (Japan) 120 min (USA)
Language	Japanese

Samurai Rebellion is a 1967 Japanese film directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Its original Japanese title is Jōi-uchi: Hairyō tsuma shimatsu (上意討ち 拝領妻始末), which translates approximately as "Rebellion: Result of the Wife Bestowed" or "Rebellion: Receive the Wife".

Plot

In the Edo period of Japan, Isaburo Sasahara is a vassal of the daimyo of the Aisu clan. Sasahara is the most skilled swordsman in the land, whose only rival in ability is his good friend Tatewaki Asano (Tatsuya Nakadai). Isaburo is in a loveless marriage with a shrew of a woman. One day one of the daimyo's advisors orders Isaburo's elder son Yogoro (Takeshi "Go" Kato) to marry the daimyo's ex-concubine, Ichi (Yoko Tsukasa), even though she is the mother to one of the daimyo's sons. With much trepidation, the family agrees. In time, Ichi and Yogoro find love and happiness in the marriage and a daughter Tomi is born.

In the meantime, the daimyo's primary heir dies, and he orders his ex-concubine to rejoin his household to care for their son and heir. The family refuses, but Ichi is tricked into the castle by Isaburo's younger son, and her husband and father-in-law are ordered to commit seppuku for their insolence and insubordination. Isaburo counters that he will comply only if the heads of the daimyo and his two primary advisors are brought to him first.

Isaburo sends his younger son and wife away and dismisses his household servants. With his elder son he prepares for battle, removing the tatami from his house to prevent slipping in the blood that will be spilled and removing the house's walls to allow for more space for combat.

The daimyo's steward, accompanied by a platoon of 20 samurai, brings Ichi to the Sasahara house and tries to force her at spear point to renounce her marriage to Yogoro and join the daimyo's household. The daimyo also "graciously" offers to commute Isaburo and Yogoro's sentences to permanent confinement in a shrine outside his castle. Not only does Ichi refuse to join his household, she throws herself onto a spear instead of abandoning her husband. Her husband goes to her side and is killed with her in his arms. His father, enraged, kills the steward's entire party, killing the steward last as he attempts to flee.

Burying the dead couple, Isaburo now decides to take his case with Tomi to the Shogun in Edo regardless of the consequences to his clan. Tatewaki, who is guarding the gate, cannot permit Isaburo to pass, and a climactic duel follows with his good friend. Isaburo is the victor, but assassins hidden nearby cut Isaburo down with musket fire. In his dying breath, he laments that no one will ever know the love story of Yogoro and Ichi, which had inspired him, an otherwise obedient vassal, to rise against his clan and lord. He beseeches Tomi to be a good and kind woman like her mother, and to seek out a fine and kind husband like her father. As Isaburo dies, we see Tomi's wet-nurse comforting the baby: she has been secretly following him. Presumably, the legend begins.

Cast

• Toshiro Mifune as Isaburo Sasahara
• Yoko Tsukasa as Ichi Sasahara
• Go Kato as Yogoro Sasahara
• Tatsuya Nakadai as Tatewaki Asano
• Shigeru Koyama as Geki Takahashi
• Masao Mishima as Sanzaemon Yanase
• Isao Yamagata as Shobei Tsuchiya
• Tatsuyoshi Ehara as Bunzo Sasahara
• Tatsuo Matsumura as Masakata Matsudaira
• Takamaru Sasaki as Kenmotsu Sasahara

Music

The music, by Tōru Takemitsu, is performed almost exclusively on traditional Japanese instruments, including shakuhachi, biwa, and taiko.

Awards

Rebellion won the Fipresci Prize (Masaki Kobayashi) at the Venice Film Festival in 1967. At the 1968 Kinema Junpo Award it won Best Director (Masaki Kobayashi), Best Film (Masaki Kobayashi), Best Screenplay (Shinobu Hashimoto). At the 1968 Mainichi Film Concours it won Best Film (Masaki Kobayashi).

External links

• Samurai Rebellion at the Internet Movie Database
• Samurai Rebellion at Rotten Tomatoes
• Samurai Rebellion at AllRovi
• Criterion Collection essay by Donald Richie
• Criterion Collection essay by Chris D.
• "上意討ち 拝領妻始末 (Jōi-uchi: Hairyō tsuma shimatsu)" (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-07-17.