Comedic Twist on a Classic Samurai Tale Featuring a Star Battling Himself

Directed by Hayato Kawai and based on the novel of the same name by Akihiro Dobashi, the film is a period drama based on the "Chushingura" story. Kira Kozukenosuke, the "hated Hatamoto," is slashed by the lord of the Akoh domain, who had been receiving persistent bullying from him, and is left on the brink of death with a wound on his back while running away. If it becomes known that he fled and died, it would be a samurai's shame, so the Kira family's retainers decide to deceive the shogunate by substituting Kozukenosuke's strikingly similar brother, Takaaki, as a body double. Muro plays the roles of the protagonist Takaaki and his brother Kozukenosuke, while Kento Hayashi portrays the Kira family's elder, Saito Miyauchi, who proposes the substitution to Takaaki.

The released footage includes a scene where Takaaki, having been driven out of his home and wandering the streets, returns as a fishy monk and reunites with Kozukenosuke. You can see Kozukenosuke expressing his disgust for Takaaki while feeding carp in a pond, saying "That waste of food..." and Takaaki, who bites on the bait and provokes his brother.

Muro highlights this scene as memorable, saying, "I enjoyed playing it. It turned out to be more interesting than I thought, so I think it's a scene worth watching." He reflects on his role as Kozukenosuke, "It was difficult to decide how bad he was, and I discussed it with the director." Tsuchihashi, who wrote the original story and screenplay, praised Muro: " Takaaki, who is rebellious, gradually becomes softer and regains his human heart as the movie progresses. The way he expresses this through his actions, lines, and gestures shows that he has done a lot of research and created his role, which I respect. He exceeded the image of the script, and I thought, 'He truly is a national actor.'"

"Migawari Chuushingura" will be released nationwide from February 9th.

by Brian Dentry

Source: Natalie