Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue

I've seen 23 of the 26 films in the series (not including the Kitano) and this is by far the hardest to watch. It is less about Zatoichi and more about the cruelty and hardship of living in poverty in a fishing village in Edo era Japan. The film dwells very much upon the secondary characters as ends unto themselves and not just as elements in a story setting up a problem which Zatoichi will eventually resolve. Zatoichi acts as you would expect him to but he is overwhelmed by the misery and circumstances in a way that is unique in the series. Watch it by all means, but not with a light heart. I found myself also overwhelmed by the misery depicted in the film. It is unsettling.

Katsu Productions was at a high level of output at this time. Katsu was producing the Zatoichi series, the Lone Wolf series, the Hanzo the Razor trilogy, the Mute Samurai television series and the Lone Wolf television series. All within a span of two years. In addition to acting in several of these efforts (of course) he also took the director's chair on several occasions. This man had a lot of energy.

While sometimes actors who take the helm show a lack of concern with the visuals preferring to focus on the performances, Katsu is an exception. The visual style here is unlike any other Zatoichi I've seen and in fact unlike most other chambara films. Everything is shot in deep focus with moody lighting and stark saturated colors. The style is somber and depressing. The next (and last in the series) Zatoichi film is back to the standard look. If you like this film I would suggest looking into Katsu's Oshi Samurai series which continues the atmosphere.

One of the best Zatoichi films but not similar to the others. Recommended but prepare for a somber experience.

'Zatoichi In Desperation' was the 24th movie in the long running and very popular martial arts series starring Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi the blind master swordsman and masseur. Zatoichi, for those that don't know is a ronin (a wandering samurai), very quiet and unassuming with a wry sense of humour, but an absolute killing machine when crossed! In this episode he encounters an old woman while crossing a bridge, and after a brief conversation with her, she tragically falls to her death. Upset, Zatoichi sets off to a nearby town to look for the woman's daughter Nishikigi to break the news to her. He eventually finds her working as a geisha and learns she only needs to pay a debt of fifty ryo to buy her freedom. Zatoichi becomes obsessed with raising the money and in doing so ignores the hardships experienced by the local fisherman caused by the local evil boss Mangoro. But when Mangoro kidnaps Nishikigi everything comes to a head in a brutal climax, and Zatoichi must save her and his own life. I can't claim to be any kind of Zatoichi expert, but he's a most intriguing character, and Katsu plays the role masterfully. I highly recommend 'Zatoichi In Desperation'.

The following review is an extract from the book "Shintaro Katsu´s Zatoichi: Complete guide to all movies", which is now available on Amazon.

Zatoichi crosses a bridge with a woman who plays the shamisen. The old woman warns him to be careful, for the wood of the bridge has holes, and it is easy to fall if one does not pay attention. The two talk briefly, and the lady asks the blind man where he is going. "Nowhere in particular, wherever the wind takes me", replies the wandering masseur. The old woman replies that she intends to visit her daughter, who works in a geisha house called Ogiya in a nearby town. Moments after they have said goodbye, the blind man has the idea of offering some coins to the old woman, as a tip for playing the shamisen so well... The grateful woman is about to take the coins, but distracted by the surprising gift, slips, loses her balance and falls into the void... She, who had recommended to the blind man to be very careful.

Zatoichi feels guilty for the deadly accident of the poor woman. Unlike its owner, the instrument has remained on the bridge and the masseur picks it up. With the shamisen he walks towards the city of which the deceased spoke to him, to look for his daughter, the geisha, in Ogiya.

(...)

This, the 24th and penultimate, is one of the two films in the saga directed by actor Shintaro Katsu himself, who also acted as co-producer. The other, also directed by Katsu, is the last of the originals (called "Zatoichi" just like that), which was filmed many years later - in 1989 - and where you can see an already grayed and almost old Ichi.

"Zatoichi in desperation", as its title already indicates, is fraught with deep pessimism. Oppressive and dark, sad, depressing and hopeless. Tragically and emotionally brutal.

It also has an undeniable poetic undertone.

Zatoichi in Desperation is the most somber and darkest Zatoichi film that I have seen in the series, both in terms of photography and plot. It's interesting that Shintaro Katsu, who plays Zatoichi, was the director. He was certainly going for a different look and style and got it. Most of the scenes are darkly lit and there is a claustrophobic feeling to the shots. The bad guys, composed of the local yakuza (gangster) mob, are meaner than usual and the body count of innocent villagers is far higher than usual. Zatoichi himself also suffers more at the hands of the evil doers than usual. This was the next to last entry (#24) in the series before the 17 year hiatus between #25 and 26. Things get back into the more typical Zatoichi style in #25. This film would have been appropriate as the last in the series. It has the feeling of "an ending". A very interesting entry, but not one of my favorites. As always, recommended for Zatoichi fans.