47 Ronin, The (1942)
From Zanecorpwiki
Full plot and total spoiler.
This is a beautiful and important movie that is both historically, culturally, and psychologically interesting. To be blunt, the driving force of the movie is ultimately childish in nature and the movie, despite everything else, is not enjoyable.
The movie closely follows a true story and very famous tale (accounts here and here). The story is this: Lord Asano, head of the Asano clan, is insulted by an imperial officer, Kira. Kira will not apologize, so Asano strikes Kira while at court, attempting to kill him, but instead only lightly wounding him. As punishment, Asano is sentenced to death by seppuku and his clan is abolished. His chief retainers (samurai, now ronin) feel that the punishment was too harsh and vow vengeance against Kira.
Oishi, the chief Asano retainer tells the cabal they must trust him no matter what. In order to delay the attack until Kira has let his guard down, Oishi calls for the restoration of the clan in order to hide his true intent.
To his surprise, the people sympathize Oishi's call so Oishi, leaves his wife and begins to leave a life of debauchery in order quicken the time for the attack, by further drawing Kira into a false sense of security and delaying the restoration of the house which apparently would have invalidated their vengeance. Everyone is very concerned that their vengeance be proper.
This all works out and they attack Kira's mansion at Edo, killing Kira. The 46 surviving samurai turn themselves in and are sentenced to death by seppuku. The end.
This story is considered a national legend in Japan and has been retold countless times. Between 1997 and 2007, there have been no less than 10 television adaptations. Given this pedigree, cast, production values and the fact that my favorite movies are Japanese this seems like a sure winner.
The movie is beautiful and wonderfully acted. If you appreciated cinema for the sake of cinema, or Japanese history or culture, this is certainly a movie worth watching. However, as a movie I cannot recommend it. In a word, it's simply tedious.
First, I really wish the attack on Kira had been done in a way so as to generate more sympathy for Asano. As presented, it looks as if Asano ambushes Kira at a time and place where it is particularly unexpected. Without seeing how Asano is pushed to this act, the majority of the movie devolves into a story about legalistic maneuvering and the politics of an outdated system driven by revenge for a selfish, seemingly unjustified act. Fascinating as a historical snapshot, but for me it just doesn't make a good movie.
The tension between living up to the late 17th century samurai code, which reached its apogee just as the nation was trying to turn from internal warring to national unity is what drives the film. We're watching the inherent contradiction of this situation in which the martial samurai tries to maintain their identity while also respecting the law and the state which is asking them to become something else. How to perpetuate the vengeance that honor demands in such a way as to keep one's own honor?
The forces at work are not arbitrary, but neither are they fundamental, and that is the basic weakness of this film. This isn't good versus evil, or even honor versus shame in any general sense. It's the playing out of a doctrinal code. A code that has the character bemoaning the peace that has settled on the land for it wears away the samurai spirit. At one point, a retainer attempts to kill Kira and is stopped by another who explains that killing Kira would thwart Oishi and that their vengeance must happen in just such a way such that the killing of Kira is secondary.
Which all goes right to the point: we're not talking about honor, or even justice here. We're not even talking about vengeance in any normal sense. We're talking about the fulfillment of artificial and outdated doctrinal forms and dictums that most would hold are undesirable in the modern world. We can respect the ronins' passion, dedication, and spirit but their motivation and drive are so flawed that it's hard to sympathize with them because there's no reason to care whether they succeed or not.
I accidentally saw the second half of the movie before watching the movie straight through and it was actually quite powerful when I was left to imagine the action that had gone before. Some unimaginable injustice which cried for redress. The composure and dedication of the samurai is still impressive, but without a suitable basis to carry the action, I just kept asking what's the point?
This particular version of the story was filmed in 1942, so it's not surprising to see a naive and uncritical portrayal of men dedicated to the martial code. The post-war cinema that carries the same visual aesthetic, costume, and sensitivity that I love--films like Ronin Gia and Hari Kari--are all about questioning doctrinal honor. What does this code do to our society? Whom does it really serve?
Certainly there's lots to write and talk about with regards to this movie and in this apsect, it's a fascinating piece. It's beautiful and important. For my sensibilities however, the central driver of the action, and therefore the movie itself, just doesn't work.
As a bit of historical comparison, try comparing The 47 Ronin to the an American counterpart, Stage Door Canteen.
