Synopsis
Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
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Cast
- Tatsuya NakadaiShingen Takeda / Kagemusha
- Tsutomu YamazakiNobukado Takeda
- Kenichi HagiwaraKatsuyori Takeda
- Jinpachi NezuSohachiro Tsuchiya
- Hideji ŌtakiMasakage Yamagata
- Daisuke RyūNobunaga Oda
- Masayuki YuiIeyasu Tokugawa
- Kaori MomoiOtsuyanokata
- Mitsuko BaishoOyunokata
- Hideo MurotaNobufusa Baba
Recommendations
- 100
Chicago Sun-Times
Simple, bold, and colorful on the surface, but very thoughtful. - 100
The A.V. Club
Though the story's Shakespearean underpinnings give Kagemusha the weight of classic tragedy–in this case, the tragedy of a man rendered helpless by larger historical forces–the film astonishes mostly as pure spectacle. - 100
Chicago Sun-Times
Simple, bold, and colorful on the surface, but very thoughtful. - 100
The A.V. Club
Though the story's Shakespearean underpinnings give Kagemusha the weight of classic tragedy–in this case, the tragedy of a man rendered helpless by larger historical forces–the film astonishes mostly as pure spectacle. - 83
Entertainment Weekly
An often breathtaking but slightly bloodless samurai epic. - 83
Entertainment Weekly
An often breathtaking but slightly bloodless samurai epic. - 80
Empire
An often overlooked fine entry in the Kurasawa canon, this shows a good many western 'epics' how it's done. - 80
TV Guide Magazine
The massive battle scenes rank with the director's best, using brilliant color, contrasting light, and the enormous cast to great advantage. Kurosawa also alternates compelling scenes of near hypnotic stillness with scenes of rousing action.
