directed by: Takeshi Kitano, year: 2003
actors: Takeshi Kitano

Zatoichi reimagines the legendary blind swordsman in Takeshi Kitano’s stylish, brutal, and unexpectedly humane revival. Zatoichi wanders into a gambling town torn between rival gangs and a corrupt magistrate, testing his mercy and lethal code as he slices through thugs with quiet precision. The film blends kinetic swordplay, deadpan humor, and stark, painterly visuals, while Kitano’s restrained direction and performance give the character a haunting, humane core amid violence.

Edo Period, Action, Drama, Jidaigeki, Samurai