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The Samurai and the Prisoner

Dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa Japan 147 min Not Rated

2026 Janus Films

In Japanese with English subtitles

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Film Information

Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the Japanese horror master behind Cure, Serpents Path, and Cloud, tries his hand at a classic jidaigeki (period drama) and proves his talent. This meticulously composed drama, set in 16th-century Japan, is a tense and metaphysical whodunit with the director’s characteristic philosophical overtones.

When Lord Murashige (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Oda (Bando Shingo), he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda’s army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon, as he must uncover the truth before the castle falls.

Reviews
"Think Knives Out meets Throne of Blood" – The Hollywood Reporter

E Cap See Change

As part of our See Change initiative, we strive to showcase the work of women and non-binary individuals and their behind-the-scenes involvement in a production.

This film is produced by Satoko Ishida.

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