‘The Samurai and the Prisoner’ Review: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Folds Nesting Mysteries into an Elegantly Classical Shogun-Era Drama
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's film 'The Samurai and the Prisoner' is a classical adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's historical novel set during the Azuchi era. The story revolves around Araki Murashige, a samurai lord in rebellion against Oda Nobunaga, exploring themes of leadership and sacrifice. With a focus on palace intrigue and character dynamics, the film presents a modern take on a storied period in Japanese history.
- ▪The film is based on a prizewinning historical novel by Honobu Yonezawa.
- ▪Araki Murashige, portrayed by Masahiro Motoki, leads a rebellion against the powerful Oda Nobunaga.
- ▪The narrative features a blend of mystery, political maneuvering, and personal sacrifice.
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| Original publisher | Variety |
| Canonical URL | https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/the-samurai-and-the-prisoner-review-1236754267/ |
| Publication time | Thu, 21 May 2026 06:41:42 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-21T07:05:03.555Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-21T07:05:03.555Z |
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Home Film Reviews May 20, 2026 11:41pm PT ‘The Samurai and the Prisoner’ Review: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Folds Nesting Mysteries into an Elegantly Classical Shogun-Era Drama The Japanese jack-of-all-genres becomes master of yet one more with a lush and engrossing adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's prizewinning historical novel detailing palace intrigue in the besieged court of a samurai nobleman. By Jessica Kiang Plus Icon Jessica Kiang Latest ‘A Man of His Time’ Review: Swann Arlaud Excels in a Provocative and Pained Portrait of a Self-Deluding Vichy France Collaborator 15 hours ago ‘The Unknown’ Review: Niels Schneider Wakes Up as Léa Seydoux in Arthur Harari’s Gratuitously Serious Body-Swap Psychodrama 3 days ago ‘Hope’ Review: Na Hong-jin’s Overlong Creature Feature Is a Guns-Blazing Riot of…
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