2020’s WWII drama The Wife of a Spy was the first traditional period piece Kiyoshi Kurosawa directed. Now we also have The Samurai and the Prisoner, which just screened at the 2026 Fantasia Festival. It is a Shakespearean jidaigeki, set in the 16th century, that brings some of Akira Kurosawa’s films to mind.
Some of the recurring themes and elements of his films, such as isolation, societal collapse, and strange deaths are present here. The murder mysteries are compelling. Masahiro Motoki and Masaki Suda are both excellent as Murashige and Kanbei. The film is full of expertly composed wide shots that transport you to its setting.
During a recent interview, Kurosawa mentioned that he does not see himself as a horror or thriller director, but a craftsperson who is open to working in any genre. That craftsmanship is on display throughout the film, even though I often found myself admiring it rather than being fully invested in its musings on war, power, leadership, and loyalty.
