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VIFF 2009 | Kamui
By VIFF Correspondent Jordana MahKamui
Japan, 2009, 120min
DIR: Sai Yoichi
Based upon the Japanese manga Kamui Gaiden, the film Kamui follows the story of the fugitive ninja Kamui. Born as an outcast in his village in 17th century Japan, Kamui escapes the abuses of hierarchial society by joining a ninja clan as a young boy. There he learns all the deadly arts of the ninja, including their ruthlessness in hunting down those who decide to leave the ninja life. Kamui experiences this ruthlessness fourteen years later when he decides he has had enough of killing and makes a break for freedom. Leaving the ninja life is not easy though and he is pursued across the countryside, surviving by thievery and trusting no one. After a narrow escape from his hunters, Kamui washes up on the shore of a beautifully remote island, where he is rescued by jovial fisherman Hanbei. Kamui is welcomed by all in the village including Hanbei's family - except for Hanbei's wife Oshika. Does she have reason to distrust Kamui, or does she herself have a secret to keep? Can Kamui ever find freedom and learn to trust in others?
Mixing martial arts, ninja stealth, shark-hunting pirates and grand landscapes, director Yoichi Sai's film is the perfect rendition of a manga come to life. The characters fly through the trees with ballet-like grace and they even run just the way characters do in animes (arms straight back and head forward). There are just enough blood and fight scenes to satisfy the action lover, while the story's intrigue and tale of redemption will interest everyone else. Stars Kenichi Matsuyama and Koyuki deliver intense, emotional performances that carry the film. Unfortunately, a plot twist near the last quarter of the movie is unexpected and doesn't actually make sense, but maybe that can be chalked up to being lost in translation. Kamui is a fun, very cool film to watch - a Saturday morning cartoon come to life.
Schema Magazine's coverage of VIFF 2009 is sponsored by the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
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October 16, 2009 at 12:25 AM
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