Shudan bugyosho yaburi

One of those very pleasant surprises. Well shot in crisp B&W, could be said to be a Japanese caper movie. Starts as a comedy but then becomes very serious as the caper nears. Period piece set in the Japan of the Edo period but don't let that deter you. Contains a rousing swordfight near the end. Has all of the genre chatacters - the scheming mastermind, the swordfighting expert, the canny idiot and a clever petty thief with a surprise female (or two). Recomended.