Samurai Marathon (2019) [Film Review]

Samurai Marathon; or, What Samurai Talk When They Talk About Running

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Samurai Marathon is the latest jidaigeki, directed by Bernard Rose and based on a 2014 novel by Akihiro Dobashi. This period picture focuses on the origins of marathons in Japan at the end of the Edo period.

Release Info

Directed by: Bernard Rose Starring: Takeru Sato, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shota Sometami

Language: Japanese Original Title: サムライマラソン Runtime: 104 min

 

Synopsis

When American troops led by Commodore Perry (Danny Huston) arrive at the Japanese shoreline, this causes quite a commotion among the officials. Local leaders are afraid of potential attacks from foreign invaders and, one of them, Lord Itakura (Hiroki Hasegawa), announces a 60-kilometre marathon contest in order to strengthen his samurai. One of the loyal warriors, Jinnai Karasawa (Takeru Sato), is actually a spy working for the shogunate. Jinnai misinterprets his lord’s intention as a call to arms and sends a wrong message to the capital. As a  result of this, a squad of assassins is dispatched in order to suppress the presumed uprising.

 

The Hidden Blades

Samurai Marathon may have a bit of a confusing introduction in view of many characters and plotlines interwoven with each other, but the further the film goes, the better it gets. The story greatly reminded me about such classics as Hideo Gosha’s Three Outlaw Samurai (1964) and Kihachi Okamoto’s Kill! (1968). There are multiple perspectives focusing on the characters who participate in the marathon. Eventually, everything comes together when the assassins arrive and the samurai have to race against time to save Lord Itakura.

 

Additional advantage is the beautiful cinematography done by Takuro Ishikaza. The atmospheric forest setting and smooth camera work really evoke early films of Akira Kurosawa. Also, the music score composed by Phillip Glass gives a breath of fresh air and emphasises the gravity of the difficult situation the samurai have found themselves in.

 

The all-star cast cannot go unnoticed as well. Takeru Sato’s portrayal of a conflicted samurai became his second nature (*Rurouni Kenshin flashbacks*). His performance is aided by those of Nana Komatsu, Shota Sometami, and Mirai Moriyama in supporting roles. Surprisingly, Naoto Takenaka has a small but great part as a retired mentor.

 

Recommendations

If you like historical movies, then you can safely check out Samurai Marathon. It is a well-made drama which provides nods to the golden age of samurai flicks. It will certainly keep you entertained. I wish more historical dramas like that could be made nowadays.

Overall score: 8/10