Samurai Marathon(Japanese:サムライマラソン,Hepburn:Samurai Marason)is a 2019 Japanese-British historical action adventure film co-written and directed byBernard Roseand starringTakeru Satoh,Nana KomatsuandMirai Moriyama.It is based on the 2014 novelThe Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathonby Akihiro Dobashi, itself inspired by the origin story of theAnsei Toashi30-km footrace held annually inAnnaka City.[1][2][3]
| Samurai Marathon | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Bernard Rose |
| Screenplay by | Bernard Rose Hiroshi Saito Kikumi Yamagishi |
| Based on | The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi |
| Produced by | Jeremy Thomas Toshiaki Nakazawa |
| Starring | Takeru Satoh Nana Komatsu Mirai Moriyama Shōta Sometani Munetaka Aoki Naoto Takenaka Danny Huston Etsushi Toyokawa Hiroki Hasegawa |
| Cinematography | Takuro Ishizaka |
| Music by | Philip Glass |
| Distributed by | Well Go USA Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
| Countries | Japan United Kingdom |
| Languages | Japanese English |
Plot summary
editIn 1855, a daimyo sends his men on a grueling marathon to discover if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. Misunderstanding his intent, the Shogun dispatches assassins.[4]
Cast
edit- Takeru Satohas Karasawa Jinnai[1]
- Nana Komatsuas Princess Yuki[5]
- Mirai Moriyamaas Tsujimura Heikurō[1]
- Shōta Sometanias Uesugi Hironoshin[1]
- Munetaka Aokias Ueki Yoshikuni[1]
- Ryu Kohata[1]
- Yuta Koseki[1]
- Motoki Fukami[6]
- Shinsuke Katō[6]
- Joey Iwanaga[6]
- Ruka Wakabayashi[6]
- Mariko Tsutsui[6]
- Mugi Kadowaki[6]
- Nao[6]
- Junko Abe[6]
- Taishi Nakagawa[6]
- Naoto Takenakaas Kurita Mataemon[6]
- Danny HustonasCommodore Perry[5]
- Etsushi Toyokawaas Ioki Suketora[6]
- Hiroki Hasegawaas Itakura Katsuakira[6]
Release
editThe film was released in theaters in Japan in February 2019.[5]It was later featured at theEdinburgh International Film Festivalin June 2019.[7]Well Go USA Entertainmentacquired North American distribution rights to the film in July 2019.[1]The film was released on VOD and digital platforms in May 2020.[8]It was also released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on July 21, 2020.[2]
Reception
editThe film has a 78% rating onRotten Tomatoes.[9]James Hadfield ofThe Japan Timesawarded the film three stars out of five.[3]
References
edit- ^abcdefghBrzeski, Patrick (July 2, 2019)."Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon' to Get North America Release From Well Go USA (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^abPrange, Stephanie (June 2, 2020)."Japanese Action Film 'Samurai Marathon' Due on Disc July 21 From Well Go".Media Play News.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^abHadfield, James (February 27, 2019)."'Samurai Marathon': A sprint through Japanese history ".The Japan Times.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^"Samurai marason".IMDb.
- ^abcClarke, Stewart (February 6, 2019)."HanWay Boards Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon,' Jeremy Thomas Producing (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^abcdefghijkl"サムライマラソン".eiga.RetrievedDecember 3,2020.
- ^Ide, Wendy (June 24, 2019)."'Samurai Marathon': Edinburgh Review ".Screen Daily.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^Martin, Peter (May 13, 2020)."Now on VOD: Bernard Rose's SAMURAI MARATHON Gets Breathless".Screen Anarchy.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^"Samurai Marathon 1855".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango.RetrievedOctober 10,2021.