This morning, I watched a film titled Bushido, but it turns out I mistakenly thought it was a new release - that's what I was told. After doing some digging, I discovered that the movie I saw is actually from 2024 and goes by the original Japanese name Gobangiri! To clarify, the story revolves around a once-respected samurai who goes to great lengths to restore his honor. Along the way, he risks everything and might even validate the misconceptions held by his critics.
While the premise and execution may not be groundbreaking, Bushido has the charm of a hidden gem just waiting to be found again. It's a serious drama that delves into the principles of the Bushido code, which is quite straightforward to grasp. Bushido encompasses not just martial discipline but also personal integrity: Rectitude or Justice is the foremost virtue of Bushido (the first principle). The screenplay explores this along with Courage (II), Benevolence or Mercy (III), Politeness (IV), Honesty and Sincerity (V), Honour (VI), Loyalty (VII), and Character and Self-Control (VIII)! What intrigued me the most was that this code was NOT illustrated through samurai battles-there were only three brief fight scenes throughout the film-but rather through numerous games of Go! Go, believed to be the oldest board game in the world, likely originated in China and brought to Japan around 500 CE. It gained popularity during the Heian period (794-1185) and evolved further with the rise of the samurai class. The Tokugawa period (1603-1867) saw the establishment of four competitive go schools, elevating the game to a professional status! This film primarily focuses on that aspect! As a chess enthusiast, I found this part of the film particularly enjoyable.
While the film is technically well-crafted, some casting choices are a bit questionable. It takes you on a journey through Japan's past, not always historically precise, but certainly entertaining.
