Hideo Gosha Double Bill

Article by Miikes' Sunglasses

A long time fan favourite director Gosha is fondly remembered for his differing and dynamic Samurai films, although like Kinji Fukasaku he had a crack at all different kinds of genres. Active and successful through Japanese cinemas 'lost' decade (the 1980s) until his death in '92, a Gosha film (one of the good ones anyway) is noticeable for its haunted and doomed protagonists and a grimy cinematic style. Under consideration below is a double header of Goshas best films. Both produced in 1969 GOYOKIN and TENCHU (aka HITOKIRI) stick out like a sore thumb against the tired trad samurai film and the upcoming wave of brutal and nihilistic chambara.

Goyokin

Starring Tatsuya Nakadai and the ace Tetsuro Tanba, GOYOKIN tells the story of a haunted samurai Magobei (Nakadai) returning to the site of an earlier massacre to seek revenge and calm for his soul. Set in dirty border towns and the snow swept plains of the north, a pretty place GOYOKIN ain't, the world Gosha has created looks good for only two things- killing and brooding- and Nakadai does plenty of both. Nakadai, always an intense actor, is particularly suited playing the doomed and haunted with his long gloomy face and piercing, yet empty eyes. Peering out through a thick beard Magobei differs from the typical Samurai anti hero- he emits regret rather than vengeance.

The smeared skies and drizzle that frame Magobei on his journey are captured with great elan by Gosha and his Cameraman Kozo Okazaki, the characters making their way through carefully composed compositions that show the ugly side of nature.

If all this sounds too sedate or depressing for you, don't despair. Magobeis journey ends with a spectacularly staged final reel fight with Tanbara- playing the nasty and officious clan elder with whom Magobei had earlier helped massacre villagers, before his self imposed exile. To the pulsing sounds of a traditional Japanese drum troupe, adorned in devilish masks, Nakadai and Tanbara duel amongst sweeping white dunes of snow. Like all good Samurai action the tension makes this fight so dynamic. Long periods of sizing each other up with blips of razor fast strikes and parries, the blood staining the virginal snow in crimson splashes. Never straying into the all out gore of Lone Wolf and Cub, the duels of GOYOKIN are like the film itself- composed, subtle and possesed of some kind of muddy truth.

4 out of 5

Tenchu

Time for a bold statement: TENCHU (aka HITOKIRI) is the finest Samurai film ever made. Cutting through the mythos of the genre- Goshas masterpiece is a story of killers and loyalty. With a career best performance from Zatoichi himself Shintaro Katsu as the tragic figure Okado Izo, TENCHU posesses a power and downright oomph that is not easily forgotten. TENCHU is the story of Izo- a savage fighter yet puppy like in his loyalty. Izo is not the smartest of men, but his skill with a sword sees his rise as the preffered muscle of his clan, led by Hampeita Takechi (Nakadai), who set him to work killing their enemies. Izo becomes the big man around town, throwing his money around and bragging of his exploits, but when his temperment become too much of a burden the clan ditches him- leaving him to rot in prison

It is almost too painful to watch as Izo gradually realises he has been used and then discarded, his once rock steady loyalty to Hampeita moves to an implaceable fury and sadness. Katsus portly frame and wolfish features alternately contort with rage and sag with blind adherance to the clan- who neither like or respect him.

In the films standout sequence Izo learns he has been left out of a raid on a neighbouring clan, and proceeds to run like a madman to the town so he can take part- frothing at the mouth and screaming his name at the peasants who cross his path, the terrible forces that drive Izo bubbling to the surface.

5 out of 5

Written by Miikes' Sunglasses for www.koroshiya.co.uk

IZO Screenshot

Interesting postscript:

Miikes Takashis new film IZO is apparantly an updating of TENCHUs hero, with a fantastical twist. Driven by his rage through time itself IZO is set loose on modern Japan pitched against Salarymen and yakuza...may his rage burn ever bright!!!

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