Saw Samurai Rebellion, a samurai film about a family who is asked to marry one of their sons to one of their lord's unruly wives. They begrudgingly accept but once the woman arrives, she's a lovely lady. It turns out she was unruly because the lord split up her previous relationship to have her to himself. But now that she's integrated into the new family, the lord demands her back again. Her son is next in line for the lord-ship and so she has to taken from her husband's side and shipped back to the castle. Boy that stinks.
Shockingly for a samurai movie, the film does not involve assassinating bureaucrats in transit at all! There is a big fight in the denouement and much political machinations, but the core of the film is the seering injustice done to this woman and to this family. The lords and powers that be keep making vague allusions to increased fiefdoms and greater money, but these promises are always for some golden tomorrow and never materialize today.
Once again, the authority of some middle-manager is questioned. The Emperor knows nothing of this provincial squabble of course and much energy is spent preventing word from reaching him. The Emperor would surely be just and fair, it's just these middlemen who are so shockingly corrupt. Even worse than them are the confederates in the household: a scheming mother in law and an easily manipulated (and physically ugly) brother.
I enjoyed this film. It was a bit of departure from the conventional samurai story (thank god) and the plot was more like a chess match than a brawl. There were subtle feints and counter-feints delivered via letter, rather than via sword-point. I think normally I would have been too groggy to keep track of these baroque plotlines, but I was alert enough today. Interesting film.
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