Samurai Marathon
- February 2019 (2019-02) (Japan)
United Kingdom
English
Samurai Marathon (Japanese: サムライマラソン, Hepburn: Samurai Marason) is a 2019 Japanese-British historical action adventure film co-written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu and Mirai Moriyama. It is based on the 2014 novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi, itself inspired by the origin story of the Ansei Toashi 30-km footrace held annually in Annaka City.[1][2][3]
Plot summary
In 1855, a daimyo sends his men on a grueling marathon to discover if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. Misunderstanding his intent, the Shogun dispatches assassins. [4]
Cast
- Takeru Satoh as Karasawa Jinnai[1]
- Nana Komatsu as Princess Yuki[5]
- Mirai Moriyama as Tsujimura Heikurō[1]
- Shōta Sometani as Uesugi Hironoshin[1]
- Munetaka Aoki as Ueki Yoshikuni[1]
- Ryu Kohata[1]
- Yuta Koseki[1]
- Motoki Fukami[6]
- Shinsuke Katō[6]
- Joey Iwanaga[6]
- Ruka Wakabayashi[6]
- Mariko Tsutsui[6]
- Mugi Kadowaki[6]
- Nao[6]
- Junko Abe[6]
- Taishi Nakagawa[6]
- Naoto Takenaka as Kurita Mataemon[6]
- Danny Huston as Commodore Perry[5]
- Etsushi Toyokawa as Ioki Suketora[6]
- Hiroki Hasegawa as Itakura Katsuakira[6]
Release
The film was released in theaters in Japan in February 2019.[5] It was later featured at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2019.[7] Well Go USA Entertainment acquired North American distribution rights to the film in July 2019.[1] The film was released on VOD and digital platforms in May 2020.[8] It was also released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on July 21, 2020.[2]
Reception
The film has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[9] James Hadfield of The Japan Times awarded the film three stars out of five.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Brzeski, Patrick (July 2, 2019). "Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon' to Get North America Release From Well Go USA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Prange, Stephanie (June 2, 2020). "Japanese Action Film 'Samurai Marathon' Due on Disc July 21 From Well Go". Media Play News. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Hadfield, James (February 27, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': A sprint through Japanese history". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9311062/ [bare URL]
- ^ a b c Clarke, Stewart (February 6, 2019). "HanWay Boards Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon,' Jeremy Thomas Producing (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "サムライマラソン". eiga.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- ^ Ide, Wendy (June 24, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': Edinburgh Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Martin, Peter (May 13, 2020). "Now on VOD: Bernard Rose's SAMURAI MARATHON Gets Breathless". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "Samurai Marathon 1855". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
External links
- Samurai Marathon at IMDb
- Samurai Marathon at Rotten Tomatoes
- v
- t
- e
- Smart Money (1986)
- Body Contact (1987)
- Paperhouse (1988)
- Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990)
- Candyman (1992)
- Immortal Beloved (1994)
- Anna Karenina (1997)
- Ivans Xtc (2000)
- Snuff-Movie (2005)
- The Kreutzer Sonata (2008)
- Mr Nice (2010)
- Two Jacks (2012)
- Boxing Day (2012)
- Sx_Tape (2013)
- The Devil's Violinist (2013)
- Frankenstein (2015)
- Samurai Marathon (2019)
- Traveling Light (2021)