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The Samurai and the Prisoner

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When Lord Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda (Bando Shingo), 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 (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.
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The Samurai and the Prisoner

The Samurai and the Prisoner

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Critics Consensus

Orchestrated with an intelligence as sharp as a katana's edge, The Samurai and the Prisoner is an elegant mystery that offers further proof of director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's mastery in any genre.

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Critics Reviews

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Valerie Complex The Nerds of Color Aug 19
Kurosawa may have made a Samurai murder mystery, but beneath the armor and political intrigue is a warning about what happens when war convinces people that dying honorably matters more than living at all. Go to Full Review Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Aug 12
3.5/4
Kurosawa de-emphasizes battle sequences to concentrate more on substantial conversations about honor, compassion, redemption and strategy, infusing it with a more heady and philosophical bent than the norm, a welcome quality... Go to Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Aug 6
3.5/5
At the heart of The Samurai and the Prisoner is a deeply moving performance from Motoki (Departures) as a man who cannot deny his fate, even as he puts up a facade that only crumbles around Kanbei. Go to Full Review Beth Accomando KPBS.org Aug 26
It’s a riveting murder mystery as well as a provocative exploration of a man who defies societal expectations to follow his own path and beliefs. Go to Full Review Luca Mehta ForReel Movie News And Reviews Aug 26
3.5/5
Regimented into five segments—prologue, act one, act two, act three, and coda—The Samurai and the Prisoner marks another cold, calculated genre piece from Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Aug 19
4/5
By asking what becomes of a warrior in wartime who does not kill, the film offers a gripping reminder of the humanity — and sacrifice — required to lead with grace, of the majesty it can inspireand the melancholy it more often spreads. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Miguel Aug 27 Modern old school basically See more MS Aug 26 Great cinematography and good story! See more Kurosawa Kubrick Aug 20 AN AMAZINGLY well done film with a great story that was shot very well all the way through ... See more Justin Aug 17 Multi layered samurai mystery with a mystic! Preferable in the theater than at home streaming due to the detail. See more lerobinson Aug 14 Don’t go thinking your going to see a lot of sword dueling or samurai fighting. It’s an introspective, intrigue filled movie with a big take home message. In the end, it comes together but feels disjointed (at least for non Japanese viewers) the first 75% of the movie. See more Oliver B Aug 12 Gripping whodunnit/mystery. See more Read all reviews
The Samurai and the Prisoner

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Cast & Crew

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Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Director

Masahiro Motoki

Murashige Araki

Masaki Suda

Kambee Kuroda

Yuriko Yoshitaka

Chiyoho

Munetaka Aoki

Kyuzaemon Araki

Shingo Bando

Nobunaga Oda
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The Samurai and the Prisoner

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Lord Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda (Bando Shingo), 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 (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.
Director
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Producer
Satoko Ishida
Screenwriter
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Distributor
Janus Films
Production Co
Shochiku, Tokyo Broadcasting System
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Crime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$716.9K
Runtime
2h 27m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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