History Film / Kagemusha

* WellIntentionedExtremist: At the beginning of the film Shingen defends his [[OffscreenVillainy historical villainous acts]] as a mean to a good goal, the country needs a powerful ruler and the unification of Japan would stop the bloodsheds.

* TruthInTelevision: The presence of Catholic Christians in Nobunaga's domains. Nobunaga, being a patron of Western culture and food, was very lenient in giving them living space and setting up churches, [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade in contrast to his reputation as a ruthless warlord]]. [[HistoryMarchesOn Considering the xenophobic tendencies of Japanese at the time]], though, it may have actually contributed to that reputation.

''Kagemusha'' (影武者) is a 1980 film by Creator/AkiraKurosawa and IshiroHonda. The title (literally "Shadow Warrior" in Japanese) is a term used for an impersonator. It is set in the [[JidaiGeki Sengoku period of Japanese history]] and tells the story of a lower-class criminal who is taught to impersonate a dying warlord in order to dissuade opposing lords from attacking the newly vulnerable clan. The warlord whom the ''kagemusha'' impersonates is based on ''daimyo'' Takeda Shingen, and the film ends with the climactic 1575 Battle of Nagashino.

Portraying both Takeda Shingen and the ''kagemusha'' is Tatsuya Nakadai, prized theater actor who has been working with Kurosawa as early as ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}''. Tsutomu Yamazaki, another well-known character actor, potrays Takeda Nobukado, Shingen's brother and a former ''kagemusha'' of Shingen himself. Daisuke Ryu plays the younger and more ambitious OdaNobunaga.

** The Criterion Collection's restored DVD edition reinserts a scene cut out from the original release, showing another daimyo/warlord in Buddhist outfit visibly distraught and praying for his soul, most likely UesugiKenshin. ([[FriendlyRivalry Shingen and Kenshin's amicable rivalry]] is [[TruthInTelevision well-documented in Japanese history]].)

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: TakedaShingen, OdaNobunaga and TokugawaIeyasu among others.

* TruthInTelevision: The presence of Catholic Christians in Nobunaga's domains. Nobunaga, being a patron of Western culture and food, was very lenient in giving them living space and setting up churches, [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade in contrast to his reputation as a ruthless warlord]]. [[HistoryMarchesOn Considering the xenophobic tendencies of Japanese at the time]], though, it probably contributed to it.

* ArmorPiercingQuetion:" I only stole a few coins. A petty thief. But you've killed hundreds and robbed whole domains. Who is wicked, you or I?"

* AntagonistInMourning: [[spoiler: When the death of Takeda Shingen is finally revealed, his rival Oda Nobunaga]] sings a song of mourning.
** The Criterion Collection's restored DVD edition reinserts a scene cut out from the original release, showing another daimyo/warlord in Buddhist outfit visibly distraught and praying for his soul, most likely Uesugi Kenshin. ([[FriendlyRivalry Shingen and Kenshin's amicable rivalry]] is [[TruthInTelevision well-documented in Japanese history]].)

Portraying both Takeda Shingen and the ''kagemusha'' is Tatsuya Nakadai, prized theater actor who has been working with Kurosawa as early as ''{{Yojimbo}}''. Tsutomu Yamazaki, another well-known character actor, potrays Takeda Nobukado, Shingen's brother and a former ''kagemusha'' of Shingen himself. Daisuke Ryu plays the younger and more ambitious OdaNobunaga.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Kagemusha2_2050.jpg]]

Portraying both Takeda Shingen and the ''kagemusha'' is Tatsuya Nakadai, prized theater actor who has been working with Kurosawa as early as ''{{Yojimbo}}''. Tsutomu Yamazaki, another well-known character actor, potrays Takeda Nobukado, Shingen's brother and a former ''kagemusha'' of Shingen as well. Daisuke Ryu plays the younger and more ambitious OdaNobunaga.

** The Criterion Collection's restored DVD edition reinserts a scene cut out from the original release also shows another daimyo/warlord in Buddhist outfit visibly distraught and praying for his soul, most likely Uesugi Kenshin. ([[FriendlyRivalry Shingen and Kenshin's amicable rivalry]] is [[TruthInTelevision well-documented in Japanese history]].)

* CurbStompBattle: The battle of Nagashino.

* KillThemAll: [[spoiler: The Takeda clan perishes under [[GloryHound Katsuyori's]] poor leadership in the final battle. Kagemusha dies too. It's implied some of the leaders [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere fled in time]] however.]]

* BadassGrandpa: Shingen at age 51 is an undoubted badass but special mention goes to Masakage Yamagata who is older than Shingen but still has the stones to try and talk sense into Shingen, his feudal master.

Portraying both Takeda Shingen and the ''kagemusha'' is Tatsuya Nakadai, prized theater actor who has been working with Kurosawa as early as ''[[Yojimbo]]''. Tsutomu Yamazaki, another well-known character actor, potrays Takeda Nobukado, Shingen's brother and a former ''kagemusha'' of Shingen as well. Daisuke Ryu plays the younger and more ambitious OdaNobunaga.

Produced by Creator/GeorgeLucas and Creator/FrancisFordCoppola, admirers of the Japanese master, the film was described by Kurosawa as a dress rehearsal for ''Film/{{Ran}}'', which was released five years later.

* AntagonistInMourning: [[spoiler: When the death of Shingen Takeda is finally revealed, his rival Oda Nobunaga]] sings a song of mourning.

* BadassGrandpa: Shingen at age 51 is an undoubted badass but special mention goes to Masakage Yamagata who is older then Shingen but still has the stones to try and talk sense into Shingen his feudal master.

* GeneralFailure: [[spoiler: GloryHound Katsuyori Takeda disregards the defensive strategy set by his father and the other generals, with catastrophic results]]
** Subverted, in that [[spoiler: Katsuyori's audacity actually pays off earlier in the movie when his risky attack, which forces the other Takeda leaders to support him against their will and better (?) judgment succeeds in taking a fortress that Shingen himself never was able to take]]

* SarcasticConfession: How Kagemusha deals with his concubines when they become suspicious.

''Kagemusha'' (影武者) is a 1980 film by Creator/AkiraKurosawa. The title (literally "Shadow Warrior" in Japanese) is a term used for an impersonator. It is set in the [[JidaiGeki Sengoku period of Japanese history]] and tells the story of a lower-class criminal who is taught to impersonate a dying warlord in order to dissuade opposing lords from attacking the newly vulnerable clan. The warlord whom the ''kagemusha'' impersonates is based on ''daimyo'' Takeda Shingen, and the film ends with the climactic 1575 Battle of Nagashino.

* [[spoiler: KillThemAll: The Takeda clan perishes under [[GloryHound Katsuyori's]] poor leadership in the final battle. Kagemusha dies too.]]