THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER
Friday, August 7, 2026 to Thursday, August 13, 2026
Siskel Film Center, Siskel Film Center, Chicago, Illinois
screening
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's stately adaptation of the novel by Honobu Yonezawa set in 16th century Japan marks his first foray into chanbara. When Lord Murashige Araki rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda, he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda's army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei Kuroda, a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in his dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls. THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER is a painstakingly-composed and philosophical thriller that proves Kurosawa's auteur vision can master any genre. In Japanese with English subtitles | Format: Digital