Mifune: The Last Samurai
a STEVEN OKAZAKI picture
Synopsis
Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997) was the greatest actor from the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema and appeared in 170 films. His collaborations with Akira Kurosawa earned him twice the Best actor Prize at Venice Festival for YOJIMBO (1961) and RED BEARD (1965).
Just as John Ford and John Wayne elevated the American Western genre into breathtaking sagas exploring the human side of America’s violent expansion, Kurosawa and Mifune transformed the chanbara film, the period sword fighting movie, into bold narratives exploring individuality versus power and repression in Japanese society. Woven together with archival footages and interviews the film tells Mifune’s life and films experience as well as his pivotal role in the evolution of the samurai film.
Trailer
Stills
Press
"Mifune was my Japanese brother, a god-like figure."
Alain Delon
"Mifune had something rare today — dignity."
Steven Spielberg
"Mifune’s speed in expressing himself was something not found in Japanese actors then. I have never fallen in love with an actor, but
Akira Kurosawa
Mifune won my heart."
Festivals
& Awards
Venice International Film Festival
Telluride Film Festival
London BFI 2016
Mill Valley Festival
Sao Paulo Film Festival
Mar Del Plata
Montreal New Cinema IFF
Ghent Film Festival
Hawaii FF
Taipei Golden Horse
San Diego Asian FF
Fribourg International Film Festival
Istanbul International Film Festival
Far East Film Festival (Udine)
Fajr International Film Festival
Sydney International Film Festival
Finland Midnight Sun Film Festival
Honk Kong Cinefan
Cast & Crew
| Keanu Reeves | Narrator |
|---|---|
| Wataru Akashi | |
| Kyôko Kagawa | |
| Takeshi Katô | |
| Steven Spielberg |
| Director | Steven Okazaki |
|---|---|
| Writers | Steven Okazaki, Stuart Galbraith IV |
| Producers | Toshiaki Nakazawa, Tôichirô Shiraishi, |
| Kensuke Zushi, Yukie Kito, Steven Okazaki, | |
| Taro Goto | |
| Consulting Producer | Rikiya Mifune |
| Executive Producers | Takeshi Hoshino, Isao Kawauchi, |
| Nobuyuki Tohya | |
| Cinematographers | Tohru Hina, Yasuyuki Ishikawa |
| Editor | Steven Okazaki |
| Music | Jeffrey Wood |
| Sound | Tsuyoshi Abo |
Releases