The other night at the local Democratic Party meeting.

Mr. Takei, have you seen this?

The film won both Best Foreign Film and Costuming Oscars when it came out. While it plays rather stiffly now, the costumes and color cinematography are rich with color and beauty. Up to then, Japanese films were exclusively black-and-white, the Technicolor process being too expensive.

By the time, the rebellion is quashed, he finds himself falling for her, feelings that only intensify when he learns that she’s already happily married to a samurai in the Imperial Guard (Wataru Watanabe). Eventually, Marito loses his grip on reality and becomes a homicidal incel.

The Gate of Hell (1953, Japan). An atypical and beautifully shot drama that’s much more a romantic tragedy than a samurai film. During the 13th Century Heiji rebellion, Marito (Kasuo Hazagata), a low-ranking samurai, rescues a royal lady-in-waiting (Maschiko Kyo) from being killed by rebels.

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