, also known as 11 Samurai, is a 1967 Japanese jidaigeki (period drama) film directed by Eiichi Kudo. This is the third and final chapter in Kudo's Samurai Revolution trilogy. The plot is a samurai epic with a loose historical basis. "The young Lord Nariatsu was probably modeled after the real life figure of Matsudaira Nariyoshi, also known as Matsudaira Tokunosuke (1819-1839)," who was the 19th or the 20th son of the Shà Âgun Ienari (1787âÂÂ1837) and the younger brother of the Shà Âgun Ieyoshi (1837âÂÂ1853). "Nariyoshi died when he was 19 years old--a perfect fit for this story. The circumstances surrounding his death are obscure, which is also very convenient for dramatic purposes."
This black and white film is set in November 1839, during the final decades of Japan's Tokugawa shogunate. The retired Shà Âgun's youngest son, Lord Nariatsu, crosses into the neighboring Oshi fief while he's hunting. Confronted by the Clan Lord Abe Masayori for just killing one of his vassals, Nariatsu kills him in a fit of pique. The Oshi fief retainers appeal to the Shà Âgun's Council of Elders for justice. Not wishing to embarrass the Shà Âgun's Tokugawa Clan, Chief Secretary Mizumo rewrites the event. He places Clan Lord Abe in the wrong and Lord Nariatsu defending himself. For this "attack," the Oshi fief is to be abolished at the end of the month, and the income from the lands given to Lord Nariatsu as compensation.
Angered by this gross injustice, Chief Retainer (Chamberlain) Tatewaki approaches childhood friend, Sengoku Hayato, and asks him to avenge their Lord's murder. Hayato agrees to assemble a small band of loyal samurai. Hayato and nine Oshi fief samurai vow to trade their lives for justice. They follow Nariatsu to Edo (feudal Tokyo) where they are joined by Ido Daijuro, a rà Ânin (wandering samurai) with a thirst for revenge against lords after tragic injustice to his family.
Hayato and his ten followers plan to ambush Nariatsu with his large escort as he travels from the brothels of Edo to the safety of his castle in the Tatebayashi fief. As they are about to attack, Hayato receives a letter from Tatewaki ordering him not to kill Nariatsu, because Councilor Mizumo has told him that the council is likely to reverse the decision to abolish the Oshi fief. While some samurai initially refuse to obey, Hayato enforces the order because obedience is a samurai's first duty. Later, Daijuro tells the others that Hayato has more reason to disobey than they do. His wife, Lady Orie, has already committed jigai in anticipation of Nariatsu's death and the retired Shà Âgun's wrath.
When Tatewaki discovers that Councilor Mizumo lied, he rides to Hayato and orders him to kill Nariatsu. Ashamed that he was duped, Tatewaki commits seppuku. The eleven samurai establich a stonghold in a small village to catch Nariatsu and his bodyguards in the town at the river crossing to his fief, where Nariatsu has tarried due to a rainstorm. In a great battle against the 50 elite bodyguards, Hayato eventually hunts down kills Nariatsu. Afterwards, few except Hayato and Gyobu are still standing. Gyobu corners Hayato and attacks only to find that Hayato, although holding his sword, makes no defense against Gyobu's mortal sword thrust. Gyobu asks Hayato why he did not parry his deadly thrust and Hayato tells him that this is how it must be before dying. Hayato had decided that after completing his mission of vengeance, that he would then have to sacrifice his own life in fulfillment of his sense of honor as a samurai.
Daijuro appearsâÂÂhe has dispatched the last of the bodyguards. Daijuro cuts off the already dead Nariatsu's head and walks away, happy in his vengeance. When the rumors of the kataki-uchi (vendetta) spread, the Oshi fief is restored to the Abe clan. And, the council of elders releases a statement that the retired Shà Âgun's youngest son has died of an illness.
(Character names follow the pattern of Japanese names, with the family surname placed first)
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Eleven Samurai has an aggregate score of 71%.
The Samurai Revolution trilogy follows the "commercial formula along the lines of the traditional Chà «shingura / 47 Rà Ânin story, especially the third film, 11 Samurai, about a violent vendetta in the midst of existential uncertainty."
The film was released on DVD in the United States on 6 November 2012 by Animeigo.