Users

Now Playing

FA Rankings

All Rankings
N
Top 1000 FA

Sections

TV Series

TOPs

Awards | Festivals

Information

Click here to copy URL

Kagemusha the Shadow Warrior

7.8

8,308

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

rent

buy

Pro reviews

Links

Original title: Kagemusha
Year: 1980
Running time: 180 min.
Country: Japan
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Screenwriter: Akira Kurosawa, Masato Ide
Music: Shinichirô Ikebe
Cinematography: Takao Saito, Masaharu Ueda
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Daisuke Ryû, Masayuki Yui, Jinpachi Nezu, Hideji Ôtaki, Kaori Momoi, Mitsuko Baisho, Hideo Murota, Takayuki Shiho, Kôji Shimizu, Noboru Shimizu, Sen Yamamoto, Shuhei Sugimori, Kota Yui, Yasuhito Yamanaka, Kumeko Otowa, Tetsuo Yamashita, Takashi Shimura, Kai Ato, Takashi Ebata, Hiroshi Shimada, Yû Shimaka, Toshiaki Tanabe, Eiichi Kanakubo, Yoshimitsu YamaguchiSee 14 More
Producer: Kurosawa Production Co., Toho, 20th Century Fox, Zoetrope Studios
Genre: Drama | 16th Century. Feudal Japan. Epic film
Synopsis: In 16th century Japan, Shingen, a powerful warlord, has become as legendary as the motto emblazoned on his war banners: "Swift as the wind, silent as the forest, fierce as the fire, immovable as the mountain." As he lies dying from his battle wounds, Shingen orders his clan to find a double to replace him--to keep his death secret so that his enemies will not attack. The man chosen for this role is called Kagemusha (the shadow warrior). However, this Kagemusha turns out to be a petty criminal who must somehow transform himself into a great leader and command the allegiance of 25,000 samurai warriors.

Rankings Position

#32 Best Japanese Movies of all time

Awards: 1980: 2 Nominations for Oscar: Best Foreign Language Picture, Art Direction

1980: Cannes Film Festival: Palme d´Or (Golden Palm) (ex aequo)

1980: Golden Globes: Nominated Best Foreign Film

1980: BAFTA Awards: Best Director and Best Costume Design. 4 Nominations

1980: César Awards: Best Foreign Film

1980: David di Donatello Awards: Best Foreign Director and Best Foreign Producer

Critics' reviews

"His film contains epic battle scenes of astonishing beauty and scope (...) Simple, bold, and colorful on the surface, but very thoughtful (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"'Kagemusha' is probably the director's most physically elaborate, most awesome film (...) Majestic, stately, cool, and, in many of its details, almost abstract."

Vincent Canby: The New York Times
"The film's deepest meanings are contained in its rhythms, which pointedly alternate between stillness and motion."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"So masterfully controlled that his command seems to extend to the heavens themselves (...) Few directors can achieve that level of perfection on an immense scale"

Scott Tobias: AV Club
"There are pleasures (...) The film vibrates with a profound respect for historical veracity (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Eric Henderson: Slant
"All of the director's classic themes and techniques are here (...) The film is enormous and grand and built to last, like a museum or cathedral – a reminder to the world."

Josh Rosenblatt: Austin Chronicle
"An often overlooked fine entry in the Kurosawa canon, this shows a good many western 'epics' how it's done (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Ian Nathan: Empire
"For all Kurosawa's splendidly colourful recreation of 16th century Japan, and though Nakadai's performance is impressive enough, it's all ultimately rather empty and tedious"

Geoff Andrew: Time Out

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

38 My Favorite Japanese Movies (47)
59 My Favorite Asian Movies (72)

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to info@filmaffinity.com

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

Hang 'Em High

1968

Ted Post

6.6
(6,902)
A Day in the Country

1946

Jean Renoir

7.8
(3,345)
Man Without a Star

1955

King Vidor

7.1
(1,921)
The Banquet (Legend of the Black Scorpion)

2006

Feng Xiaogang

6.3
(212)