Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his dearest friend.
The Hidden Blade bears more than a passing resemblance in story and form to The Twilight Samurai, but stands on its own as a pleasant, if unremarkable, romance.
– V.A. Musetto,
New York Post,
23 Jun 2006
fresh:
An affecting portrait of the impact of profound change on people with limited options.
– Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
1 Jul 2006
fresh:
Reminders of feudal Japan are mixed in with a prescient glimpse into the country's future. The samurai will not be part of it, and The Hidden Blade poignantly shows what is lost in the name of progress.
– Ruthe Stein,
San Francisco Chronicle,
7 Jul 2006
fresh:
Yamada's enormously enjoyable The Hidden Blade is a movie that deftly balances the obligations of samurai history with love story.
– Wesley Morris,
Boston Globe,
14 Jul 2006
fresh:
A tenacious survival tale in which passionate lovers are held apart by outmoded traditions. How they overcome obstacles to happiness is what makes the film so dramatically engaging.