Samurai Trilogy DVD
The Samurai Trilogy is a film trilogy directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring ToshirÅ Mifune as Musashi Miyamoto and Koji Tsuruta as KojirÅ Sasaki. The films are based on the novel by Eiji Yoshikawa, about the famous duellist and author of The Book of Five Rings.
Together, they are a trilogy of epic proportions following the character growth of Musashi from brash—yet strong—young soldier to thoughtful and introspective samurai, culminating in Musashi’s duel with the greatest opponent he would ever face.
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto. Following the battle of Sekigahara, Takezo (ToshirÅ Mifune) and his friend Matahachi (Rentaro Mikuni) find themselves on the losing side. Instead of the grand victory and glory Takezo had anticipated, he finds himself a hunted fugitive. The pair seek shelter with a widow and her daughter. Both women attempt to seduce Takezo but are rejected. The widow then tells Matahachi that Takezo tried to assault her and convinces him to escort her and her daughter to Kyoto. Matahachi agrees even though he loves (and is betrothed to) Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa), a woman from his village.
Takezo returns to his village to tell Matahachi’s family that he is still alive. Matahachi’s mother doesn’t believe him and he is arrested for treason. There is a village wide search for Takezo, organized by the lord. Even after using his relatives as bait, the villagers cannot catch Takezo.
Takezo is finally captured by the Buddhist priest Takuan SÅhÅ, who tells the lord that he must be allowed to use his methods to control him. The priest believes that he can straighten him out, but Takezo escapes with Otsu’s help. Takezo is then captured again by the priest after finding out that Otsu has been taken to Himeji Castle. He is tricked and locked in a room in the castle for three years.
The end of the film shows Takezo being granted his samurai name ‘Musashi Miyamoto.’ He then leaves to search for enlightenment, leaving two messages for Otsu: “Soon I will be back” and “Forgive me.”
Samurai II is Duel at Ichijoji Temple and Samurai III is Duel at Ganryu Island.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia articles “Samurai Trilogy“, “Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto“.