Apr. 26, 1980|Japan|180 Min.|PG
Genre: Action;Drama;History;War
Description: Kagemusha, a renowned 1980 epic by Akira Kurosawa, tells the story of a thief who is chosen to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, preventing rival clans from attacking. After Shingen’s death, his generals reluctantly agree to let the impersonator take his place as the powerful leader. As the thief grows accustomed to life as Shingen, his dedication is tested when he must lead troops into battle against a rival warlord.
Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, Takeda Shingen, leader of the Takeda clan, meets his brother Nobukado and a thief who closely resembles Shingen. Recognizing the thief’s potential, they decide to use him as a kagemusha, or political decoy. During a siege, Shingen is mortally wounded by a sniper and orders his generals to keep his death secret for three years. After Shingen’s death, the thief is introduced to the generals as his replacement. Initially unaware of Shingen’s fate, the thief discovers his preserved body in a jar. Distrustful, the generals release him. Later, Shingen’s corpse is secretly disposed of in Lake Suwa, leading to suspicions among his rivals about his death.
The film explores themes of identity, loyalty, and leadership as the thief navigates his dual role, questioning his ability to live up to the legacy of the man he is meant to replace.
Cast director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast actor: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu, Hideji Ôtaki, Daisuke Ryû, Masayuki Yui, Kaori Momoi, Mitsuko Baisho, Hideo Murota
Original name: 影武者