Sanjuro

8/14/2023

This is a superb adventure story with Toshirô Mifune reprising his role from "Yojimbo" as the wandering samurai warrior. This time he arrives in a village facing some local corruption. The "Chamberlain" has been framed by the superintendent of a clan, who tries to secure his tenuous position by killing off any detractors. "Sanjûrô" decides to help protect them, and is soon drawn into the battle that requires all of his skills and know-how (of course, they are completely outnumbered). The plot interveaves a story of local politics nicely with a lust for power, and a coming of age for many of the locals who are in awe of their warrior leader. Takako Irie is quite interesting as the wife of the arrested Chamberlain; she looks every inch the prim and proper Japanese wife, but is frequently (an