Event

WFAC 2009: Musashi: the Dream of the Last Samurai

Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584-1645) was an unrivalled swordsman who became renowned through stories of his distinctive style and excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels. He wrote a master treatise on military strategy, _The Book of Five Rings_, and sought the way to enlighten his spirit and cultivate his mind. But could his image have been fabricated by the generations that followed?

With _The Book of Five Rings_ as his guide, maverick filmmaker Mamoru Oshii (_Ghost In The Shell_, _The Sky Crawlers_) unsheathes his unique vision of the greatest swordsman in Japanese history, cynically demolishing many clichs deeply rooted in popular imagery. An unusual and controversial portrayal of this legendary, multifaceted character, between spectacular duels and a tragic life in pursuit of greatness in the days when internal wars in Japan had virtually ended. Is he a national hero fabricated for political purposes, or a universal man misplaced in time?

_OFFICIAL SELECTION, 2009 Film Festival Locarno_
_OFFICIAL SELECTION, 2009 Sitges International Film Festival of Catalonia_