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Ichi honors the classic tale of the blind samurai while casting the legend in breathtaking new light. In a role traditionally played by men, award-winning actress Haruka Ayase is both tender and brutal.
Beautiful Ichi wanders blindly from village to village, searching for the sightless swordsman who long ago taught her to kill. Her technique is exquisite and explosive, her defenses as impenetrable as the darkness in which she moves. Many along her solitary path are touched – some by the sound of her delicate music, others by the edge of her lethal blade. Also starring Shidou Nakamura (Letters from Iwo Jima), with original music by Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator, Dead Can Dance).
Beautiful Ichi wanders blindly from village to village, searching for the sightless swordsman who long ago taught her to kill. Her technique is exquisite and explosive, her defenses as impenetrable as the darkness in which she moves. Many along her solitary path are touched – some by the sound of her delicate music, others by the edge of her lethal blade. Also starring Shidou Nakamura (Letters from Iwo Jima), with original music by Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator, Dead Can Dance).
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Most who encounter Ichi see a simple goze, a blind female musician. Some are surely touched by her delicate music – but some will feel the edge of her blade. Her technique is exquisite and explosive, and her wandering journey will not end until she finds the sightless swordsman who long ago taught her to kill.
When Toma found Ichi in battle against Banki’s thugs, he did everything he could to help – which was very little. Shaken by childhood tragedy, he is worthless with his blade. None the less, when Toraji asks Toma to protect the people of his village, he eagerly accepts the offer – but he’ll need Ichi by his side.
Disfigured and relentlessly cruel, Banki leads his gang on a campaign of terror, his bandits claiming the village of a young yakuza as their own. When Ichi learns Banki might have information she needs, their paths cross – as do their blades.
Toraji is a young yakuza struggling to protect his village from Banki’s marauders. He hires Toma to be the savior of his people – with tragic results. However, hope is not lost. Toma does not travel alone, and if Ichi can be compelled to fight, Toraji’s village might survive.
SORI’s directorial debut, the award–winning PING PONG, became one of Japan’s highest–grossing films of 2002. After his revolutionary work on Appleseed and Vexille, SORI returns to the director’s chair with Ichi.