A perfect example of just how much the stars of a film can elevate mediocre material by the strength of their performances.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A perfect example of just how much the stars of a film can elevate mediocre material by the strength of their performances.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Two things elevate it. One is Yasuda’s commitment to looking in depth at the culture of the Edo period, rather than just cribbing from past jidaigeki and trying to distract us with swordplay. The other is seasoned jidaigeki actor Yamaguchi’s wonderfully sensitive and sincere performance.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Two things elevate it. One is Yasuda’s commitment to looking in depth at the culture of the Edo period, rather than just cribbing from past jidaigeki and trying to distract us with swordplay. The other is seasoned jidaigeki actor Yamaguchi’s wonderfully sensitive and sincere performance.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A film full of intimacy and affection, of insight into the effort it takes to be both an artist and a human being.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A film full of intimacy and affection, of insight into the effort it takes to be both an artist and a human being.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A shallow, stagnant film that whiffs of plagiarism.

~ Donald Munro -

A shallow, stagnant film that whiffs of plagiarism.

~ Donald Munro -

Daniel Vernon’s film is one of those meandering documentaries that starts out trying to do one thing and ends up going in directions that nobody involved seems to have anticipated.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Daniel Vernon’s film is one of those meandering documentaries that starts out trying to do one thing and ends up going in directions that nobody involved seems to have anticipated.

~ Jennie Kermode -