Takeshi Kitano plays the famous Blind Swordsman and hits the entertainment high spot without losing any of his creative élan. Witty, with brilliantly choreographed fights and a finale that will have you dancing out of the cinema.

Zatoichi, the blind sword fighter, has long been one of Kitano's favourites. Almost 10 years after a brief reference to the Zatoichi legend in his film Getting Any? and even longer since he imitated Zatoichi in his stand-up comedy act, Kitano now really takes up the famous sword of the blind avenger. Kitano's Zatoichi (played by his acting persona Beat Takeshi) has a fashionable platinum blond hairstyle and may be a little cooler than the traditional everyman's friend, but apart from that, Kitano sticks to the laws of the Zatoichi genre. The blind Zatoichi tracks through 19th-century Japan and earns his living playing dice and giving massages. Behind this façade is a master sword fighter who battles for justice. In a remote mountain village, the people are terrorised by the Ginzo gang. Led by the merciless Ginzo, samurai Hattori (Asano Tadanobu) is quick to clear away troublesome opponents, and they include our hero. In a gambling hall, Zatoichi meets two cunning geisha sisters, Okinu and Osei. They have come to town to avenge the death of their parents. Right up to the very infectious finale, rhythm is an important factor in camerawork, cutting and music. Kitano's first costume film is guaranteed to be a favourite among audiences and has few hidden agendas. `In Zatoichi, what you see is what you get', says Kitano himself.

Director: Kitano Takeshi
Production: Mori Masayuki, Saito Tsunehisa, Office Kitano Inc.
Scenario: Kitano Takeshi, based on a story by Shimozawa Kan
Cast: Beat Takeshi, Asano Tadanobu, Ogusu Michiyo, Natsukawa Yui, Guadalcanal Taka, Tachibana Daigoro, Daike Yuko
Camera: Yanagijima Katsumi
Editor: Kitano Takeshi, Ota Yoshinori
Production design: Isoda Norihiro
Sound: Horiuchi Senji
Music: Suziku Keiichi
Running time: 116'

www.zatoichi.co.uk