Zatoichi and the Doomed Man

Kazuo Mori's 1965 film is the eleventh entry in the series about the blind swordsman Zatoichi. Briefly jailed, Ichi is asked by another prisoner, sentenced to death, to help prove his innocence. Ichi is reluctant, knowing what involvement in such things has cost him before, but events pull him in. This entry argues openly about how selective Zatoichi's sense of justice is: not getting involved is also a choice, and it has a price. There is an impostor in the film who imitates Ichi, and that doubling makes visible the hero's relationship with his own legend. Shintaro Katsu's performance, as always in the series, carries humour and sadness at once. Who it's for: viewers following the Zatoichi series and enthusiasts of classic chanbara. Who it's not for: anyone starting the series here, or who will find the repetition of sword fights dull.