Ronin Gai

Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the death of Japanese film pioneer Shozo Makino, Kazuo Kuroki's samurai saga is set in the 1830s. Their days as enforcers all but over, the once-mighty Ronin warriors hang out at a sleazy bar outside of Edo. When invaders attack the bar's prostitutes, the disillusioned Ronin must find the strength to sober up, sharpen their swords and retaliate. Shintarô Katsu, Yoshio Harada and Kanako Higuchi star.

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Towards the end of the Tokugawa era, the merchant was king and earning a living as a proper samurai was nearly impossible. The noble samurai class, prohibited from earn a living through trade, was basically useless. Ronin Gai tells the story of four ronin whose lives end up briefly intertwined. The plot centers around a brothel whose prostitutes are being murdered right and left. There's not much swordplay in this film; it's much more character-driven. Most of the fighting takes place at the end in a very haphazard manner. Ronin Gai is really an exploration of the depravity of the era. It is peppered with subtle humor and Shintaro Katsu and Yoshio Harada give wild, blustery performances. If you are a fan of samurai films, it's worth watching.
- pterosaur