Director: Yamada Yoji
Script: Yamada Yoji, Asama Yoshitaka, adapted from Fujisawa Shuhei's novels
Cinematographer: Naganuma Rokuo
Editing: Iwao Ishii
Sound: Kazumi Kishida
Music: Tomita Isao
Cast: Sanada Hiroyuki, Tanbo Tetsuro, Miyazawa Rie, Tanaka Min, Kobayashi Nenji, Osuki Ren
Production: Shochiku
Distribution:
Japonismes
Year: 2002
35 mm, Color, 125 mn,
OV Japanese with French Subtitles
Official Selection Berlin film Festival 2003
At the time of the decline of the Samurai, at the dawn of the Meiji era, Seibei Iguchi is a low-caste Samurai. A widower, he looks after his two daughters and sick mother alone, after long hours of work as a warehouse manager. As he always gets home early, his friends and neighbours call him “Twilight Sergei”. They advise him to get married again, but as he is poor, he will have to be satisfied with any woman he can get. It’s at this time that the love of his youth, attractive Tomoe, reappears, having divorced her violent husband. One evening when they are together, the drunk ex-husband surprises them and challenges Seibei to a duel. The latter manages, all the same, to win the duel with a simple wooden sword, using techniques taught by an old master. The news of his victory spreads, and he is designated by his clan to put down a very dangerous rebel Samurai.
