This link has been bookmarked by 6 people . It was first bookmarked on 20 Dec 2007, by Nele Noppe.
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11 Oct 12
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03 Aug 10
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27 Jul 08
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20 Dec 07
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Set in mid-19th century Japan, a few years before the Meiji Restoration, it follows the life of Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai employed as a bureaucrat.
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content and happy life with his daughters and senile mother.
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turbulent times conspire against him
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concentrates on showing the main character's everyday struggles, instead of focusing on action-oriented battles. Thus, the film carries very few fight scenes.
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Iguchi Seibei,
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wife succumbs to tuberculosis
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His wife receives a grand funeral, more than what a lowest-ranking samurai such as Seibei could afford.
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Seibei works in the grain warehouse, accounting for stores inventory for the samurai clan.
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condescending nickname "Tasogare Seibei" or "Twilight Seibei" — when evening approaches, Seibei rushes home
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Even though he is of samurai class, Seibei continues downward in a sorry state of neglect of his own appearance, failing to bathe and dressing in the same tattered rags day after day, almost looking more like a peasant than samurai.
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Things change when Seibei's childhood friend, Tomoe (sister of Iinuma Michinojo, one of his better, kinder samurai friends) returns to town.
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divorced
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With much deep regret, Seibei cannot accept Iinuma's offer of his sister's hand in marriage, citing his inferior social status (a 50 koku samurai) and how he did not want to see Tomoe (from a 400 koku samurai family)
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the head of Seibei's clan, having heard of his prowess with a sword, orders Seibei to kill a samurai retainer, Yogo Zen'emon, who has been "disowned"
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insignificant, lowest-ranking samurai are being selected for disownment.
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Before he leaves, he finally tells Tomoe that he was wrong not to propose.
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She regretfully tells Seibei she has already accepted another's proposal and will be married soon
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With deep wounds, Seibei limps home as fast as he could. Kayano and Ito rush to him in the courtyard, happy to see otou-san (father).
Tomoe is there, waiting in the house. They have an emotional reunion.
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his younger daughter explains that their happiness was not to last: He died three years later in the Boshin War,
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