Toshiro Mifune in Mifune: The Last Samurai

Toshiro Mifune and Akira Kurosawa in Mifune: The Last Samurai

“ A celebration of the originality and influence of Toshiro Mifune, shown as a rare actor capable of the subtlest stoicism and the wildest bravado. It’s a brisk and energetic primer for those who don’t know his movies or are ready to watch them again. ”

— THE NEW YORK TIMES

Toshiro Mifune (1920-97) was the most prominent actor of Japan’s Golden Age of Cinema in the 1950s and 60s. Of his nearly 170 films, the most compelling were his collaborations with Akira Kurosawa. Together they created enduring works of art - RASHOMON, SEVEN SAMURAI, THRONE OF BLOOD, HIGH AND LOW, YOJIMBO, THE BAD SLEEP WELL - movies that thrilled audiences and influenced filmmaking around the world. Without them, there wouldn’t be a MAGNIFICENT 7, Clint Eastwood wouldn’t have A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, and Darth Vader wouldn’t be a samurai.

Just as John Ford and John Wayne elevated the American Western, exploring the human side of America’s violent expansion, Kurosawa and Mifune transformed chanbara, the sword fighting movie, into provocative narratives that pushed the boundaries of the genre to examine the role of the individual in society. Mifune, the first international action star of color, was an imperfect movie hero. Disinterested, ill-mannered and deadly, he continues to influence generations of actors seeking his combination of cool invincibility. As Steven Spielberg notes, “A lot of people try to imitate Mifune, but nobody can.”

MIFUNE: THE LAST SAMURAI explores the evolution of chanbara from its beginnings in the silent era; then follows Mifune from his childhood in Manchuria; his World War II experience as a reluctant officer watching young kamikaze pilots depart on their missions; his accidental entry into the movies; his fortuitous collaboration with Kurosawa; and his years after. The film is narrated by actor Keanu Reeves; directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki; and produced by two of Japan’s most renowned producers Toshiaki Nakazawa (the Academy Award-winning DEPARTURES) and Toichiro Shiraishi (HARA-KIRI and 13 ASSASSINS). It focuses on six of Mifune's classic samurai films and features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Teruyo Nogami (Kurosawa's longtime script supervisor), Kyoko Kagawa (RED BEARD), Yotsuke Natsuki (YOJIMBO), Yoko Tsukasa (YOJIMBO), Yoshio Tsuchiya (SEVEN SAMURAI), Takeshi Kato (THRONE OF BLOOD) and others.

SEDIC INTERNATIONAL presents a CREATIVE ARTISTS, LTD. and FARALLON FILMS Production

Produced by TOSHIAKI NAKAZAWA & TOICHIRO SHIRAISHI

Producers: KENSUKE ZUSHI, YUKIE KITO, TARO GOTO

Directed & Edited by STEVEN OKAZAKI

2016 / Documentary / 80 Minutes

Poster Design: Zand Gee — Poster Design: **Zand Gee**

Early poster design by ZAND GEE. — Early poster design by **ZAND GEE**.

Producer/Interpreter Taro Goto; the incredible Teruya Nogami; director Steven Okazaki; Consulting Producer Rikiya Mifune at the Mifune Productions Office in Tokyo in 2017.