A Grande Arte

The path of a pacifist photographer being seduced by the need for justice and the intrigue of a hitherto unknown world of professional assassins plying their trade via the intimate and all-too-personal death delivered by a knife is a very deep experience to watch unfold, and Peter Coyote does it to a tee.

His inner revulsion to the horror of embracing this culture is offset by its fascination as well as the necessity of descending into it to find out the truth behind the killing of model/prostitutes. Slowly but surely you observe the influence of his gaining knowledge and confidence as he is tutored (by a master of the art he just happens to see and captures on camera one day plying his craft), all dragging him down to dive in completely.

The plot thickens as characters are revealed and surprises are forthcoming, all leading to a fantastic final knife-fighting confrontation with the acknowledged master, someone he has known all along but not suspected.

I saw this movie about 10 years ago, but never noted the title until I was trying to order it on-line, and now I have it in my collection. I highly recommend it for its combination of intense drama, revealing close analysis of the process of a sworn pacifist turned to embrace violence as a way of life, amazing fighting scenes, and an uplifting ending. Unforgettable.

This is a well made, low key thriller about knife fighters in Rio. Peter Coyote gives one of his best performances. The only quibble I had with the film is that I wanted to see A WHOLE LOT MORE KNIFE FIGHTING!

After all that great, cool set up and the main character undergoing the Art of Knife Fighting training. I was a bit disappointed we didn't get many more knife fights. This could have been the ultimate knife fighting movie. Still, it's good. But when during the final fight sequence I wanted something more spectacular, blood spraying to the heavens like the end of Kurosawa's Sanjuro. And after seeing the extraordinary knife fighting sequence in Kill Bill I was expecting a little more.

I viewed this movie a few years ago and was impressed by the training scenes, however, I have always wondered where to get knives like the ones featured in the film, I cannot for the life of me remember their names even. Any help would be appreciated. I am a budding knife collector and follower of the art of knife fighting, I just wish there were more of it in the film. Anyone know of similar flicks out there I could check out? This is my first time ever submitting anything to this site and can't wait to start talking movies with people, they are after all, one of my greatest passions. Another reason for me to like this movie I guess is that I am in school to become a professional photographer!

A film that is extremely evocative - so many exciting nuances. It is unforgettable - a pity that the actor who played the "knife expert" is seen more. One of Peter Coyote's best.An unusual cast - many contrasts. The photography is outstanding. A haunting experience....

I believe this oddly successful film was also aired on US television (Bravo channel) as "Exposure". I have never seen it under the other titles listed. The knife techniques are very professional and effective, as is the explanation of selection of weapons.