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A basic martial arts tale is cross-pollinated with several timely political parables in thought- provoking form as Yumiko Shaku stars in "Shura Yukihimi," or, in English, "The Princess Blade." Swordplay with
a moral edgeA Japanese comic book movie
HIFF schedule
poses timely questionsBy John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comThe characters and their post-modern milieu may make more sense to film fans with exposure to the Japanese comic book the film is based on, but the story quickly becomes fascinating. Shaku captures our allegiance as Yuki, a professional assassin.
"The Princess Blade" turns out to be more than routine martial arts fare, and neither predictable nor boring in its balance of a romantic and political subplots. However, the transitions between scenes are often choppy and most of the martial arts action occurs in gloomy and dimly lit settings.
Yuki is a youthful member of the House of Takemikazuchi. Once royal retainers, they fled their motherland when the monarchy was overthrown and have since offered their formidable skills to the highest bidder. We're talking swordsmen of such speed and skill that they deflect bullets with their blades, and prefer to do their business with swords and traditional martial arts weapons rather than firearms.
The House of Takemikazuchi has recently been employed by the government of an unidentified country to suppress a rebellion by idealists who believe people have a right to a happy existence.
No time frame is indicated beyond the fact that this is a computer-age society. The assassins wear midnight blue uniforms. The other people wear contemporary Americanized attire. The government is totalitarian and issues news bulletins of the type that would be heard in North Korea or the Peoples' Republic of China.
The immediate issue at hand is basic martial arts movie stuff: Was Yuki's mother, Azora, killed because she tried to betray the Takemikazuchi when Yuki was a little girl? Or, was Azora murdered by Byakurai, the current leader of the Takemikazuchi, because she wouldn't marry him after Yuki's father died (or was killed)?
Yuki sets off to track down and kill another defector and learns from a loyal and long-lost friend and retainer of her mother that Azora was murdered by Byakurai -- and that as of Yuki's 20th birthday she will be entitled to claim her birthright and replace Byakurai as leader of the Takemikazuchi.
And, guess what? It's Yuki's 20th birthday!
Yuki kills the defector, returns to the Takemikazuchi's underground stronghold, and confronts Byakurai, who denies everything. One of several long and elaborately choreographed martial arts battles follows. Yuki is wounded but escapes.
Enter Takashi -- a humble working man by day and disillusioned idealist by night -- who has some secrets of his own. It's here that "The Princess Blade" steps outside the basic "wronged martial artist seeks revenge" format and addresses contemporary issues.
How many innocent people may idealists kill as they struggle toward a noble goal? The question is timely.
"We have to do whatever is necessary to achieve our ideals. Nobody pays attention if a few dozen citizens don't die," Takashi is told by a resistance leader when he questions the logic behind an operation that caused civilian deaths. Does unquestioning allegiance to noble ideals take precedence over personal happiness?
While Takashi wrestles with those conundrums he looks down on Yuki and her profession. He kills for a noble cause or for personal revenge. She kills for money.
Byakurai and the remaining assassins of Takemikazuchi are meanwhile wondering if their organization will lose its moral justification for existence if there are no longer any people of Takemikazuchi descent to lead it (Yuki is apparently the last of the bloodline). Or do such traditions and moral precepts matter?
Not rated "The Princess Blade"
Playing at 9 p.m. Monday
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