Underplayed Gems

Roningai (1928)

Roningai poster
Original title
浪人街 第一話 美しき獲物
Directed by
Masahiro Makino
Genre
silent film
Country
Japan
Runtime
8 min
Rating
6.2 of 10 from 6 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

This silent film follows a group of masterless samurai in a town full of ronin. It shows their lives and sword fights in a unique setting.

fast-pacedenergeticaction-heavyatmosphericnostalgicvisually inventiveensemble-drivenhistoric

What happens

Roningai (浪人街 第一話、第二話、第三話, Roningai Daiichiwa Dainiwa Daisanwa), also known as Samurai Town: Story 1, Story 2 and Story 3, are respectively 1928 and 1929 black and white Japanese silent films directed by Masahiro Makino. Serving as parts of a 4-part series, the first and second installments are representative films of Masahiro Makino, the son of Shozo Makino (considered the 'father of Japanese film'). The Story 2 consists of two parts - the "first chapter" (第一篇 (Dai-ippen)) and "the solution" (解決篇 (Kaiketsuhen)). These films lent status to ensemble casts and did not rely on famous stars. The film was known for its depiction of the unique setting of the ronin town as well as for the exquisite camera work and fast-paced sword fighting scenes. Most of the film of Story 1 was lost, and Story 3 was completely lost. The shortened version of the film of Story 2 exists. Makino remade this movie in 1939, 1951, 1957, 1990. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

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