Film

U.S. Premiere
Co-presented with The New York Asian Film Festival

Set in the Edo era, Scabbard Samurai is about Kanjuro, a broken-down "scabbard samurai" who wishes to fight no more after the death of his wife. The local lord has branded him a deserter and ordered him to avenge his honor by committing seppuku--or, he can choose what's behind Door Number Two. The lord's young son has not cracked so much as a smile since the death of his mother, and the family is looking to lift his spirits. Kanjuro's mission, should he choose to accept it, is to make the prince smile again--and he has 30 days to do it. If he succeeds before the month is out, his life will be spared. Otherwise, he'll die trying. Scabbard Samurai is Hitoshi Matsumoto's most grounded film to date. Featuring his trademark deadpan humor, it's a side-splitting tearjerker that never takes the easy way out.

Japan. 2010. 103 min., 35mm, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto. With Jun Kunimura, Masato Ibu, Itsuji Itao, Rolly.

Part of JAPAN CUTS 2012

TICKETS
$12/$9 Japan Society members, seniors and students

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