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News

Prolific director's acclaimed samurai epic to screen at GC Film Festival

By CMS

Fans of Japanese cinema, samurais and action films: rejoice! Takashi Miike’s samurai epic, 13 Assassins will be screening at the 2011 Gold Coast Film Festival, presented by Australia Fair Shopping Centre.
 
Miike is one of Japan’s most prolific film makers, his work ranging from family films like Zebraman to controversial action movies like Ichi the Killer. 13 Assassins is one of his largest films yet, and creates a thrilling mix of the director’s potent film making and elements of the great samurai films.
 
13 Assassinsis a bravado-fuelled period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era, in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war torn future.
 
“There is no hard historical proof to back up this legendary battle in 13 Assassins. However, I do believe it’s true that samurai did not fear risking their lives, and they fought against their enemies regardless (of) how many they were. The pleasure of making a Jidaigeki (samurai period drama) film is that the characters can achieve in only one night what would otherwise take 100 days in a contemporary story... I always seek universal themes when making a Jidaigeki film. Love beget revenge and justice beget violence.” Takashi Miike, Director.
 
The film is a remake of Eichi Kudo’s 1963 black-and-white movie of the same name, Jûsan-nin no shikaku. “For any film that I make, I never see similar films for reference. The most important thing about remaking a classic movie is how much you respect the original movie. I didn’t worry about putting my own mark on the remake since I respected the original film. I have never sought to impose my personality on a film. My philosophy as a director has always been to set aside my ego and just enjoy making the film.” Takashi Miike, Director.
 
13 Assassins has won several international awards this year and was nominated for almost every category in the 2011 Awards of the Japanese Film Academy.