The Sword

April 11, 2020
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Film past event
Film

Saturday, April 11, 7 PM 
 
PLEASE NOTE: To ensure the safety of all in our community, this film series and screening has been canceled and our building temporarily closed to the public. Please visit our COVID-19 page for information on ticket refunds, donations, and our virtual program initiatives.

One of the rare non-jidaigeki films directed by Kenji Misumi—best known for his contributions to the Lone Wolf and Cub and Zatoichi swordplay film series—The Sword nevertheless evokes the bushido spirit through the story of an exceptionally talented kendo club captain whose ascetic devotion to the centuries-old practice draws the ire of his less-disciplined assistant. Adapted from a short story by Yukio Mishima and released the same year Japan hosted their first Olympics, The Sword positions the battle over kendo supremacy as an ideological conflict between feudal traditionalism and postwar modernity in determining the future of Japan. A psychologically tense drama beautifully rendered with widescreen black-and-white cinematography.

1964. 94 min. 35mm, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Kenji Misumi. With Raizo Ichikawa, Yukiko Fuji, Yusuke Kawazu, Akio Hasegawa.

Tickets: $14/$11 seniors, students and persons with disabilities/$10 Japan Society members.

3-Film Pass: $2 off each ticket when you purchase three films in the same transaction.

All-Access Pass: $77 ($7 per ticket for all 11 films in the series)

This program is part of our Aim for the Best: Sports in Japanese Cinema series.

Program subject to change. For updated info and special offers, please visit: japansociety.org/film

Box Office Policy

  • Saturday, April 11, 2020
  • 7:00 pm