Sazen Tange and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo

A fun mix of drama and action with a lighthearted undertone.

I never expected something like this from a Japanese period movie beginning in the court of a feudal lord. The ronin Tange Sazen is by far the most "emasculated" male protagonist I've ever seen in Japanese film, who is nevertheless sympathetic. He is a defeated cripple servile to the widow of his master and her child, themselves a lower class family, and the story that surrounds them is human, warmly humorous and socially sensitive.

Star Rating: ★★★1/2

Delightful! Filled with quirky characterizations and beautiful human reactions. It's the first film I've seen by director Sadao Yamanaka, and sadly it'll be one of the very few I will ever see as this talented man died young without many films surviving. This is also the first film I've seen of the very recognizable Denjirô Ôkôchi. What a character! He's a child in mind, and a man in war! And he rules all the scenes he's in. Especially with the kid! This is simply a tremendous feel good movie!

Pure movie bliss.