For some, Toshiya Fujita’s revenge film “Lady Snowblood” will inevitably be linked to Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill vol. 1”, for which it was a major inspiration; Tarantino borrowed aspects of the plot and narrative structure, used the song ‘The flower of carnage’ and let the cinematography inspire him. For all the influence “Lady Snowblood” had on Tarantino, it might be surprising to conclude that the two “Lady snowblood” movies have an anomalous character in Fujita’s oeuvre, as nothing he made, before or after, bares any stylistic resemblance to the first and second movie. But how anomalous these narratives may have been, what Fujita created with “Lady snowblood” is nothing short of a cult classic.
The narrative of “Lady snowblood” starts …show more content…
Set in the early Meiji period, a time of transition from a feudal system, the Tokugawa Bakufu, to a modern westernized Japan, the first tension that is sensible is the one between modernity and tradition. Throughout the narrative themes of corruption and exploitation evoke this tension, a tension that, in the end, will find its most apparent translation in the western styled masquerade ball where the final showdown goes down.
But one should not read “Lady snowblood” as a statement to return to the tradition of old, as a more subtle, a more pressing commentary is aligned with the first tension. Wrapped up in the guise of western decadency a subtle leftist commentary is vocalized on right-wing politics and imperialism. The last villain that plunges to his dead, pulls down a Japanese flag with him. His blood taints it, his right-wing imperialism taints it.
The narrative of “Lady Snowblood” puts the dimension of revenge and destiny put into question - the dimension of destiny counteracting a reading of Shurayuki as embodiment of female empowerment. Furthermore the purpose of revenge is put into question as such, as the lack of a positive catharsis that follows the conclusion of Yuki’s revenge, confronts us and Yuki with the emptiness that lies …show more content…
The camera, in general, moves through the narrative space with a raw fluidity, the occasional avant-gardish shot creating moments of decorative flourish. Each action scene, irrespective of their focus on Shuriyuki or the impact of her sword, is framed with an exhilarating elegance. The interplay between red and white, as a sort of literal translation of the name snowblood, is a recurring visual motive in the movie; the pure white of the snow providing the canvas for the painterly crimson red of the blood that gushes around in abundance. “Lady Snowblood” proves to be an expressionistic cinematographed revenge tale, with powerful and stylish imagery that lingers in one’s mind. Empowered by the mesmerizing performance of Meiko Kaji, Fujita artfully translated Koike’s true purpose to the screen: the creation of a strong beautiful demonic woman with turns cutting down people, with her beautiful sword, into an
The narrative of “Lady snowblood” starts …show more content…
Set in the early Meiji period, a time of transition from a feudal system, the Tokugawa Bakufu, to a modern westernized Japan, the first tension that is sensible is the one between modernity and tradition. Throughout the narrative themes of corruption and exploitation evoke this tension, a tension that, in the end, will find its most apparent translation in the western styled masquerade ball where the final showdown goes down.
But one should not read “Lady snowblood” as a statement to return to the tradition of old, as a more subtle, a more pressing commentary is aligned with the first tension. Wrapped up in the guise of western decadency a subtle leftist commentary is vocalized on right-wing politics and imperialism. The last villain that plunges to his dead, pulls down a Japanese flag with him. His blood taints it, his right-wing imperialism taints it.
The narrative of “Lady Snowblood” puts the dimension of revenge and destiny put into question - the dimension of destiny counteracting a reading of Shurayuki as embodiment of female empowerment. Furthermore the purpose of revenge is put into question as such, as the lack of a positive catharsis that follows the conclusion of Yuki’s revenge, confronts us and Yuki with the emptiness that lies …show more content…
The camera, in general, moves through the narrative space with a raw fluidity, the occasional avant-gardish shot creating moments of decorative flourish. Each action scene, irrespective of their focus on Shuriyuki or the impact of her sword, is framed with an exhilarating elegance. The interplay between red and white, as a sort of literal translation of the name snowblood, is a recurring visual motive in the movie; the pure white of the snow providing the canvas for the painterly crimson red of the blood that gushes around in abundance. “Lady Snowblood” proves to be an expressionistic cinematographed revenge tale, with powerful and stylish imagery that lingers in one’s mind. Empowered by the mesmerizing performance of Meiko Kaji, Fujita artfully translated Koike’s true purpose to the screen: the creation of a strong beautiful demonic woman with turns cutting down people, with her beautiful sword, into an