Kôki Mitani, master of comedy at home with both stage play and motion picture, brings to the silver screen a point in the epic history of feudal power struggle with a comic twist. Just as a powerful family was at the verge of unifying Japan, their strong leader was assassinated. Two powerful lords each support a different successor but harbored secret ambitions of their own. The Kiyosu Conference was an attempt at a compromise by democratic vote cast by the 5 most powerful lords to determine the legitimate successor. Of the three besides the two vying forces, one is in a mad rush across the country hoping to arrive in time for the vote. Of the two remaining, one is wavering every minute while the other is not really is sure as he wanted to appear to be. The movie depicts these events through convoluted diplomacy and side-splitting hilarity (one of the candidates was an absolutely adorable moron).
Kôji Yakusho plays one of the two vying powerful lords, abandoning his well known gentleman persona for a he-man of a warrior. Less known to the global cinematic scene but equally brilliant is Yo Oizumi, portraying the rival nicknamed "monkey" who, behind all the clowning, has subtleties aplenty and the ambition of Alexandra the Great. Watching these two will put you in absolute cinematic ecstasy. Supporting them is a huge cast of men and women, each and everyone top-notch.
This is a movie that should be watched not just once, but two, or maybe three times.
Kôji Yakusho plays one of the two vying powerful lords, abandoning his well known gentleman persona for a he-man of a warrior. Less known to the global cinematic scene but equally brilliant is Yo Oizumi, portraying the rival nicknamed "monkey" who, behind all the clowning, has subtleties aplenty and the ambition of Alexandra the Great. Watching these two will put you in absolute cinematic ecstasy. Supporting them is a huge cast of men and women, each and everyone top-notch.
This is a movie that should be watched not just once, but two, or maybe three times.