THEME EXPLORATION

Japanese sword-making tradition

30 films · 2 directors

Tracing the thread…

FILMS THAT EXPLORE THIS
Tokyo-ga
Tokyo-ga
1985 · Wim Wenders
Il se peut que la beauté ait renforcé notre résolution – Masao Adachi
Il se peut que la beauté ait renforcé notre résolution – Masao Adachi
2011 · Philippe Grandrieux
The Nagaharu Yodogawa Story: A Cineaste's Life in Kobe
The Nagaharu Yodogawa Story: A Cineaste's Life in Kobe
1999 · Nobuhiko Obayashi
The Lady and the Beard
The Lady and the Beard
1931 · Yasujiro Ozu
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
1965 · Sergei Parajanov
Like Water for Chocolate
Like Water for Chocolate
1992 · Alfonso Arau
The Tempest
The Tempest
1932 · Robert Siodmak
Wadjda
Wadjda
2012 · Haifaa al-Mansour
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2000 · Ang Lee
Four Daughters
Four Daughters
2023 · Kaouther Ben Hania
The Leopard
The Leopard
1963 · Luchino Visconti
Ixcanul
Ixcanul
2015 · Jayro Bustamante
Father
Father
2001 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
1963 · Tony Richardson
Tulpan
Tulpan
2008 · Sergei Dvortsevoy
Restoration
Restoration
2011 · Yossi Madmoni
The Croods
The Croods
2013 · Chris Sanders & Kirk DeMicco
The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai
2003 · Edward Zwick
Undertow
Undertow
2009 · Javier Fuentes-León
Taipei Story
Taipei Story
1985 · Edward Yang
Afternoons of Solitude
Afternoons of Solitude
2026 · Albert Serra
Dracula
Dracula
2026 · Radu Jude
The Last Dance
The Last Dance
2026 · Anselm Chan Mau-Yin
Athiradi
Athiradi
2026 · Arun Anirudhan
The Little Sister
The Little Sister
2026 · Hafsia Herzi
Death to the Invader
Death to the Invader
1961 · Tomás Gutiérrez Alea
Idea di un’isola
Idea di un’isola
1967 · Roberto Rossellini
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
1979 · John Woo
Moolaadé
Moolaadé
2004 · Ousmane Sembène
Sons of the Good Earth
Sons of the Good Earth
1965 · King Hu
DIRECTORS WHO EXPLORE THIS
Masaki Kobayashi Japan

His masterpiece 'Harakiri' (1962) explores the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of the samurai code and blade culture through devastating visual and narrative design.

 Takashi Miike Japan

In films like '13 Assassins' (2010), Miike combines visceral sword combat with deep exploration of samurai honor, craftsmanship, and the ritualistic nature of blade-wielding.