Mifune: The Last Samurai

Mifune: The Last Samurai, also known as Mifune, is a 2015 biographical documentary directed by Steven Okazaki. It chronicles the life of Toshiro Mifune, a Japanese actor and international star most noted for playing samurai characters in films by Akira Kurosawa.[1]

Mifune: The Last Samurai
Directed by	Steven Okazaki
Produced by	Toshiaki Nakazawa
Screenplay by	Steven Okazaki Stuart Galbraith IV
Starring	Toshiro Mifune (archival footage) Akira Kurosawa (archival footage) Keanu Reeves (as narrator) Steven Spielberg Martin Scorsese
Music by	Jeffrey wood
Cinematography	Tohru Hina Yasuyuki Ishikawa
Edited by	Steven Okazaki
Production company	Creative Associates Limited Farallon Films
Distributed by	Strand Releasing
Release date	September 7, 2015 (2015-09-07) (Venice) November 25, 2016 (2016-11-25)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States

Plot

Cast

• Toshiro Mifune (archival footage) as Himself
• Akira Kurosawa (archival footage) as Himself
• Kyōko Kagawa as Herself
• Yoko Tsukasa as Herself
• Yoshio Tsuchiya as Himself
• Takeshi Kato as Himself
• Kaoru Yachigusa as Herself
• Yosuke Natsuki as Himself
• Terumi Niki as Herself
• Steven Spielberg as Himself
• Martin Scorsese as Himself
• Shiro Mifune as Himself
• Hisao Kurosawa as Himself
• Teruyo Nogami as Herself
• Tadao Sato as Himself
• Sadao Nakajima as Himself
• Haruo Nakajima as Himself
• Kanzo Uni as Himself
• Wataru Akashi as Himself
• Kōji Yakusho as Himself
• Keanu Reeves as Narrator

Production

Mifune was produced by Toshiaki Nakazawa, known for producing 13 Assassins and Sukiyaki Western Django.[2]

Writing

Mifune is inspired by the book Samurai: Hyōden Mifune Toshirō (Samurai: A Biography of Mifune Toshirō) by Matsuda Michiko.[1][3]

Filming

Release

Mifune officially opened on November 25, 2016 at the IFC Center in New York City, over a year after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September 2015.[4][2]

Its opening coincided with Toshiro Mifune being honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—the ceremony also featured a screening of the film.[5]

Home media

On April 25, 2017, Netflix began streaming Mifune in the United States on the same day as its DVD release.[6]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10.[7]

On Metacritic, the film has a score of 64 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]

Awards and nominations

Venice Film Festival (2015)

• Nominated – Best Documentary on Cinema – Steven Okazaki

Hawaii International Film Festival (2016)

• Nominated – Documentary Feature – Steven Okazaki

Denver International Film Festival (2016)

• Nominated – Best Documentary – Steven Okazaki

References

1. Okazaki, Steven (Director) (November 25, 2016). Mifune: The Last Samurai (Motion picture). United States: Creative Associates Limited.
2. Maunula, Vili. "Mifune: The Last Samurai shown at the Venice Film Festival". Akira Kurosawa Info. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
3. "Matsuda Michiko". Nippon. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
4. Kohn, Eric. "Toshiro Mifune: The First Non-White Movie Hero – Interview". IndieWire. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
5. "Hollywood Chamber to Honor Toshiro Mifune with Walk of Fame Star". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
6. "Mifune Netflix and DVD Release". Farallon Films. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
7. "Mifune: The Last Samurai". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
8. "Mifune: The Last Samurai". Metacritic. Retrieved May 14, 2018.

External links

• Mifune: The Last Samurai on IMDb