In a landscape of recycled IPs, a never-ending torrent of superhero fever, and films that are made for adults being shoved to the wayside, original high-concept films (strong examples being Inception (2010) and The Matrix (1999)) seem to be a thing of the past. That’s why it was a breath of fresh air when Jun’ichi Yasuda released his Japanese samurai comedy film A Samurai in Time at this past year’s Fantasia International Film Festival. The film follows samurai Kosaka Shinzaemon (Makiya Yamaguchi) who is transported by a strike of a lighting to modern day Japan, landing at the studio of a jidaigeki (period drama) television production. Ba da tisssh … cue the punchline. However, director Jun’ichi Yasuda’s crowd-pleasing film is more than just a 131-minute extended punchline, it’s a film with affectionate heart and strong character, anchored by a strong lead performance by Yamaguchi.
For spoiler-free take, you have options. Either head to EoM Contributor Blak Cinephile’s original Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 review posted at 8bit Waffles or EoM Founder Douglas Davidson’s from Fantasia International Film Festival 2024.
Center: Makiya Yamaguchi as Kosaka Shinzaemon in A SAMURAI IN TIME. Photo courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival and Third Window Films.
Blowing me away when I first saw it at Fantasia, A Samurai in Time is a film that grows on you with its layered character development. For the film’s first act, it’s a charming laugh-fest, the bulk of the jokes (and entertainment) solely carried by Yamaguchi himself. As he experiences many things for the first time (TV! Cakes from bakeries! Vacuum cleaners!) he responds with shock, joy, and awe. Add on his bewilderment of being on a film set — a humorous scene where Kosaka mistakes a staged, scripted fight for something real and angers the set’s director (Hajime Inoue) when he interrupts the main actor’s monologue — and you have a good 20-30 minutes of original comedic material. But again, this film is more than an extended punchline. As the film progresses, Kosaka’s character development is one of layered depth. As our protagonist settles into this strange new world, he learns about the endless possibilities of love, the importance of humility, and the fatal pitfalls of pride.
Makiya Yamaguchi as Kosaka Shinzaemon in A SAMURAI IN TIME. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films.
Thanks to Yasuda’s shrewd writing, Kosaka learns each of these lessons through three key characters. There’s great subtle romance between Kosaka and the TV studio’s assistant director Yuko Yamamoto (Yuno Sakura). The chemistry between Kosaka and Yuko is not just a highlight because of their cute affection for one another, it also works because of what unites them. Yuko has a passion for jidaigeki productions, a genre she loves and aims to direct one day. For Kosaka, what Yuko loves and admires is his lifestyle; before he was transported, the samurai code of honor was the only thing that mattered to him. When it comes to humility, Kosaka learns of the depths of such a concept through his training with Seikimoto (Rantaro Mine), a sword fighting instructor. Carrying a fine supporting performance by Mine, Seikimoto trains Kosaka how to die … on screen. Through his training with Seikimoto, Kosaka leans the humility and grace of falling on your own sword (literally). The logic being that if you win a battle with dignity, you should also learn how to lose with dignity. The final lesson of pride comes in the form of Kyoichiro Kazami (Norimasa Fuke), a famous movie star who requests to return to the world of jidaigeki films on the condition that he gets to do a samurai scene specifically with Kosaka. When it is revealed in a rug-pulling scene that Kyoichiro is a blast from Kosaka’s past, Kosaka is confronted with the biggest question in his whole journey — can he let go of ancient feuds and choose to just live instead? It’s a stakes-raised situation that elevates the film’s third act (specifically its climax) to nail-biting levels of tension, culminating in a jaw-dropping final samurai battle that will literally have audiences on the edge of their seats. Such an audacious tone shift would come off as absurd in lesser hands, but that’s what makes Jun’ichi Yasuda’s film so mesmerizing. What begins as a fish-out-of-water comedy slowly builds into a strong character-driven tale about destiny and purpose.
L-R: Makiya Yamaguchi as Kosaka Shinzaemon and Rantaro Mine as Sekimoto in A SAMURAI IN TIME. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films.
Operating on a tiny budget, with just 10 crew members, and taking on many roles himself (including cinematographer, editor, and VFX), it’s nothing short of a miracle that Yasuda was able to make an entertaining piece of art like A Samurai in Time. Taking the high concept of transporting a samurai into present-day Japan and pairing that with a subversion of its own concept (life imitating art and vice versa) makes this film more than meets the eye. Its existence as well as its genre-bending progression is proof that there is still life for original cinema, no matter the budget or studio. A film doesn’t have to be mind-bending, star-packed, expensive, or overly shocking; sometimes a fun and enjoyable ride is all you need. In its 1080 p Blu-ray release, Third Window Films provides a lean but beautifully upscaled presentation of this fun feature. On the supplemental side, there is an interview with director Jun’ichi Yasada about the film, a conversation between Makiya Yamaguchi and Yuno Sakura, deleted scenes, and two trailers. Regardless of being a fan of samurai films, Japanese cinema, or time-travel stories, if you love entertaining films in general, this release is for you.
A Samurai in Time Special Features:
- Director Jun’ichi Yasuda interview
- Deleted Scenes
- Makiya Yamaguchi and Yuno Sakura behind the scenes talk show
- Teaser Trailer
- Trailer
- Slipcase Edition (Limited to 2000 copies)
- Region FREE
Available on Blu-ray and digital April 28th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Third Window Films A Samurai in Time webpage.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
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