- Release year: 1961
- Director: Akira Kurosawa.
- Producers: Akira Kurosawa, Ryûzô Kikushima, and Tomoyuki Tanaka.
- Screenplay by: Akira Kurosawa and Ryûzô Kikushima.
- Cinematography by: Kazuo Miyagawa.
- Music by: Masaru Satô.
Synopsis: a ronin frees a village from the destruction that a war between two greedy gangs is causing.
Shotgun Commentary: can one-man army movies ever get old? If this one is anything to go by, they definitely can not.
Review
Yojimbo is the thrilling tale of a hero who does good without asking or expecting anything in exchange. A man who helps good people and punishes villains just because it is the right thing to do, because he gets as much satisfaction doing it as you do watching it.
A new image
The western classic A Fistful of Dollars (1964) is the remake of this feature, so you already know the gist of it if you are familiar with that one. If you are not, here’s a short recap. A quiet, stoic man arrives in an even quieter village. He learns that two sides are fighting to rule over the village, making the territory slowly perish rather than flourish. Seeing this situation of injustice, the protagonist decides to use his physical and intellectual abilities to save the town by getting rid of both sides. Essentially, it is the type of adventure story you will love if you are a big fan of karma.
BFI has released a 4K version of this film that allows you to watch this classic as crispy as possible. Does it make a difference? It surely does. Kurosawa is well known for his symbolisms and the curated visuals of his films, so any improvement in that regard is always a cause for celebration. Additionally, after watching Toshirō Mifune is several different roles in the past few months, this critic can attest to the great importance of clear visuals to enjoy his work.
More than dialogue
Mifune plays the lead role of the film, ronin Sanjuro, the hero that will outsmart and outfight anyone who stands in his way. Watching Mifune’s performance, it isn’t hard to imagine why Clint Eastwood got the role for the Western version of this narrative. Both actors can carry the weight of their performance in their expressions. A flick of the mouth or a twitch of the eye is enough for them to convey a lot more than any passionate speech could.
Furthermore, this use of body language serves to add, in addition to tension, lots of comedic moments that lighten the mood even during the harshest situations, a great resource that ensures that the film enjoyable for as many audiences as possible, even the more squeamish ones.
Light and rhythm
As for the aforementioned visuals, they play a huge role in this feature, much like they do in all Kurosawa films. Yojimbo combines nature and man to give this narrative a unique style, showcasing Sanjuro not only as a man but almost as a force of nature that even drives the wind along with it.
Still, the aesthetics don’t end in this nature-man connection, the protagonist exhibits a marvellous wound work, courtesy of a talented makeup department that had to be the envy of all Japanese cinema. The realism of their work being so good it could easily compete against most makeup effects today.
The pace of the film is absolutely wonderful. Despite not being over three hours long like Seven Samurai (1954), it is still a delight to be able to enjoy a story without the nagging feeling that you are wasting your time.
There is a very thin line between having an artistic vision and loving your own thoughts too much, and Kurosawa definitely knows where it is. His works are always gorgeous and make sure to leave enough breathing space for the experience to not feel rushed. Thankfully, he also knows not to overstay his welcome, showing a deep respect for his audience’s time and intellect.
All in all, Yojimbo is a magnificent story that takes you on a wild ride you never want to leave. The talent in front and behind the cameras is apparent, leading to a great product that one can enjoy over and over, and still find new things within it. If you enjoy karmic stories with lots of turns, this will be a terrific time for you!
BFI’s double-feature release of Yojimbo and Sanjuro can be ordered now on their website. Details and links below!
Special features
- UHD: Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Blu-ray: Newly restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
- Sword For Hire (2024, 25 mins): Kurosawa scholar Jasper Sharp discusses Yojimbo and Sanjuro in this analytical assessment
- Audio commentary on Yojimbo by film critic Philip Kemp (2000)
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Yojimbo (2002, 45 mins): a detailed documentary study of the film
- Introduction to Sanjuro (2003, 5 mins): filmmaker Alex Cox introduces Sanjuro
- Newly recorded audio commentary on Sanjuro by Japanese-Australian filmmaker Kenta McGrath
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Sanjuro (2002, 35 mins): the film is examined in detail in this documentary study
- Out of the Dust Storm and Into the Koi Pond (2025, 18 mins): Nic Wassell considers the role of nature as a background to human machinations in both films
- Alex Cox on Kurosawa (2003, 9 mins): the director discusses the life and work of Akira Kurosawa
- Original trailers
- Image galleries
- ***First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with new writing on both films by Hayley Scanlon, writing on both films by Akira Kurosawa, originally published in1964, original reviews and film credits
Product details
- UHD: RRP: £39.99 / Cat. no. BFIU0011 / 12
Japan / 1961, 1962 / black and white / 110, 96 minutes / Japanese language with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 UHD66 x 2: 2160p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio and LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)
- Blu-ray: RRP: £29.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1536 / 12
Japan / 1961, 1962 / black and white / 110, 96 minutes / Japanese language with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 BD50 x 2: 1080p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio and LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)
Where to buy
- UHD: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/yojimbo-sanjuro-4k-uhd.html
- Blu-ray: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/yojimbo-sanjuro-blu-ray.html
Advice to take from this movie:
- Sometimes problems have a way of fixing themselves, they just need to be nudged in the right direction.
- Know your worth and don’t sell yourself short.
- Sometimes waiting is the best course of action.
What’s your take? Have you watched Yojimbo? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀