Kagemusha
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78% Critic Match

Kagemusha

The Shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own.

7.8 / 10 1980 3h 0mPG Japanese
ActionDramaHistoryWar

Storyline

Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.

Cast & Crew

Tatsuya Nakadai

Tatsuya Nakadai

Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha

Lead
Tsutomu Yamazaki

Tsutomu Yamazaki

Nobukado Takeda

Kenichi Hagiwara

Kenichi Hagiwara

Katsuyori Takeda

Jinpachi Nezu

Jinpachi Nezu

Sohachiro Tsuchiya

Hideji Ōtaki

Hideji Ōtaki

Masakage Yamagata

Daisuke Ryū

Daisuke Ryū

Nobunaga Oda

Masayuki Yui

Masayuki Yui

Ieyasu Tokugawa

Kaori Momoi

Kaori Momoi

Otsuyanokata

What People Are Saying

4.0
A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Akira Kurosawa's vision lands with breathtaking precision.
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
4.0
Every frame feels alive. Kagemusha is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker