FILM REVIEW -
GOHATTO
Japanese Samurai movie done with
some social realism, rather than wire work and extreme leaping about on
trampolines and wires, - the story is
basically a reworking of Death In Venice, a young male warrior of striking good
looks, (he resembles a porcelain Boy George) disrupts a select band of
Samurai warriors as one by one the men fall for his charms and endanger their
careers attempting to (and often succeeding) in seducing him, the title
means taboo. The older wiser guard, (or is that old set in their ways
traditionalists?) attempt to find ways to maintain their code of order, (in
one sequence they order one of their men to take him to a geisha brothel, with
very funny consequences,) but there are some serious aspects that
prevent this degenerating into Carry On Up The Dojo, as someone who may be jealous
of him begins to kill off his other lovers, or could it be he himself who is
the killer? Also, why are the two men most keen to maintain masculine order so
close as inseparable mates as the main protagonist points out to them before
the stunning final conflict. A very effective study in bigotry and secrecy and
the extent people may go to protect their identities, - pretty dangerous in the
days of bloody big swords.
Arthur Chappell
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