Yamada in confident form

The world of the samurai and the West clash in The Hidden Blade (Tartan, €24.99), directed by Yoji Yamada’s.

This companion to the acclaimed The Twilight Samurai focuses on Munezo, a Samurai caught between trying to keep his marriage alive and the attentions of a maid, while his clan is beginning to swap swords for guns.

Yamada is again in confident form, and while the samurai genre might seem to be milked to death at this stage, this film has a romance and the passing of a warrior tradition to keep you watching.

Featurettes on behind the scenes action and the end of the samurai world, as well as an interview with Munezo, complete the package.

Drama

Star Rating: 4/5.