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context: movies > some films
Rikyu
1989. Director: Hiroshi Teshigahara. Starring: Rentaro Mikuni, Tsutomu Yamazaki.
There's plenty on the great Rikyu in the tea ceremony section and elsewhere here:
Rikyu
This biopic combines facts and some astute blurring of traditional histories' firm distinction between art/culture and power/politics with established anecdotes of Rikyu. It rather ignores certain things, and although the events leading to Rikyu's death are at the centre of the film, it doesn't convince, as most accounts fail to, in explaining this. I'm also far from persuaded by shogun Hideyoshi's portrayal as a petulant buffoon.
Nonetheless, this may be the most beautiful looking film I've ever seen. Certainly flowers, ceramics, fire, gold and bamboo in a storm have never looked better. The opening scene of the famous morning glory story and the ending of Rikyu walking into a stormy bamboo forest are breathtaking and unforgettable.
One note: avoid the SlingShot DVD - it does say that it's digitally remastered, which I felt the need to check, because it's the worst transfer I've seen. I'm not sure there are any better options available, sadly.