Gosuke
wants something very American: upward social mobility. Sadly, he is born of
peasant stock in 16th Century Japan. Frankly, as the heir to the
village’s prestigious steel smithy, Gosuke is in a better position than most of
his fellow commoners, but he will give it all up to join Oda Nobunaga’s forces
in hopes of becoming a full-fledged bushido warrior in director-screenwriter Yoshinari
Nishikôri’s Tatara Samurai (trailer here), which opens this
Friday in Los Angeles.
Only
the Murage knows the secrets that give Tatara steel such strength. Gosuke’s
father has just assumed the mantle, so it is time for Gosuke’s training to
begin in earnest. However, the young man wants more than a quiet life in
Tatara. He is also haunted by childhood memories of the ronin who attacked his
village before Lord Shinnosuke and his samurai arrived like the cavalry. Since
then, the peasant’s constant state of vulnerability has unnerved him.
Hearing
Oda will reward bravery within his ranks with samurai titles, Gosuke sets out
to enlist. Unfortunately, he accepts the help of an unscrupulous merchant to
help facilitate his military service. Not so surprisingly, the only thing
battle-worthy about Gosuke is the sword he had forged from Tatara steel. Despite
washing out, Gosuke is still in debt to the cunning Yohei, who will try to
collect in a most Faustian manner.
Tatara is a terrific old
school, pre-Edo Jidaigeki that nicely balances swordplay action with a
thoughtful meditation on the Bushido code. It is a sweeping story that
seamlessly incorporates actual events surrounding Oda’s unification campaign
and eventual betrayal. Frankly, Shô Aoyagi’s Gosuke is a somewhat unsympathetic
character (at least until he learns better), but he is surrounded by a rich
cast of complex characters. Naoki Kobayashi broods like a champion as Gosuke’s
shrewder boyhood friend Shimpei, who is also considerably handier with a sword.
Anna Ishii is quite poignant as Okuni, the fiancée he leaves behind, while
Masahiro Komoto radiates tragic dignity as Gosuke’s father. Akira lends stately
steeliness to the proceedings as Lord Shinnosuke and Tomoko Tabata adds plenty
of energy and verve as his chief spy.
