NEW TALE OF ZATOICHI (1963)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *uncanny*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *drama*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *psychological*

Twice I watched NEW TALE OF ZATOICHI, the third entry in the series, to see if I could glean some of the stellar qualities others saw in it. But I still didn't think it was as dramatically strong as either the original ZATOICHI or its sequel. 

TALE might have seemed a little stronger to me if the story had elided some of the side-plots, as when Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) encounters an impoverished musician and his family, or ferrets out a local gang of thieves. The main action stems from all the events that transpire when the traveling masseur-swordsman, weary of killing the various opponents who have plagued him, returns to the village where he learned his sword-skills. 

Once he finally makes it to the village, Zatoichi re-encounters his old teacher Banno (Seizaburo Kawazu), as well as Banno's sister Yayoi (Mikiko Tsubouchi). The masseuse is disturbed to learn that Banno wants Yayoi to marry a wealthy man she doesn't love, not least because Zatoichi had a crush on her years ago. Further, Yayoi reveals that she reciprocates his feeling. However, Banno won't stand for interference with his plans, and may be willing to challenge his student to keep Yayoi in line. As a secondary threat, the brother of a man Zatoichi previously slew wants revenge-- though oddly, the thing that offends the sibling most is not simply his brother's death, but the enormity of his being killed by a blind man. However, viewers looking for outstanding swordplay will be disappointed with this entry.

Despite the wandering script, Katsu does his usual excellent job in defining the character, full of regrets for his sinful life. TALE is one of many Japanese films to transplant an ethos of modernity upon a medieval setting. Not only is Banno portrayed as a tyrant for controlling his sister's marital destiny, Zatoichi confesses to Yayoi that he's patronized prostitutes in his sinful life, which a real man of the period probably would not have regretted. Naturally, there's no happy ending in store for the blind masseuse and his former love, so it's on the next adventure in the series.