Gonza the Spearman (1986) Yari no Gonza
Gonza the Spearman (1986)
DVDRip | MKV | 712x464 | x264 @ 1795 Kbps | 126 min | 1,76 Gb
Audio: Japanese (日本語) AC3 2.0 @ 192 Kbps | Subs: English, Japanese (日本語)
Genre: Drama
DVDRip | MKV | 712x464 | x264 @ 1795 Kbps | 126 min | 1,76 Gb
Audio: Japanese (日本語) AC3 2.0 @ 192 Kbps | Subs: English, Japanese (日本語)
Genre: Drama
Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Writers: Monzaemon Chikamatsu (play), Taeko Tomioka
Stars: Hiromi Gô, Shima Iwashita, Shôhei Hino
Based on a puppet bunraku play by Monzaemon Chikamatsu (as was Shinoda's Double Suicide of 1969), and winner of the Silver Bear at Berlin in 1986.
Gonza is a famous spear-wielding samurai at a time when prowess in the tea ceremony is a quicker avenue to success than the use of weapons. The complicated plot portrays his inability to conform to the sexual and professional conventions applying to his role.
Stylised and static in the manner of many Shinoda films, with beautiful cinematography by Kazuo Miyagawa and a striking score from Toru Takemitsu.
The sets and costumes are wonderful and take you back to the early Tokugawa period. If you feel that some of the acting is understated you should remember that the people of the samurai class were not supposed to show their emotions. They should be quiet, calm and composed no matter what the circumstances. It is in the Japanese theatre, bunraku and kabuki, that emotions are allowed greater freedom. So I think the acting is an authentic portrayal of the period.
The beautiful color photography should also be mentioned.
(click to enlarge)
Gonza the Spearman (1986) Yari no Gonza
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