Takeshi KITANO 北野武

The Blind Swordman: Zatoichi

座頭市

Nippon Cinema   ª 

Takeshi “Beat” KITANO plays the famous blind swordsman Zatoichi who is travelling through ancient Japan and fighting for justice. In a mountain village, he learns that the Ginzo gang is terrorizing the peasants, so he decides to stay. Great entertainment rhythmic images and spectacular sword fights!

座頭市
Zatoichi

Japan 2003

116 minutes

Director
Takeshi KITANO

Script
Takeshi KITANO

Cinematography
Katsumi YANAGISHIMA

Music
Keiichi SUZUKI

About Takeshi KITANO
北野武

Takeshi KITANO, born in Tokyo in 1947, is a film director, actor, author, television and radio host, painter, and comedian. His directing debut VIOLENT COP (1989) was a huge hit on the international scene. His follow-up feature HANA-­BI (1997) won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival while ZATOICHI (2003 / NC ’04) earned him a Silver Lion. The historical drama KUBI (2023 / NC ’24) is based on KITANO’s own novel of the same name and had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.