
Given a chance of a lifetime, to complete a mission given to him by his blessed Shogun Samurai Kyoichiro Kazami (Noriimasa Fuke) goes to great lengths to complete his task. A man of honour Kazami`s strong believes define him, he will wipe out anyone who is opposed to his mighty shogun; Kazami and his friend, another low member of his clan await their target while a storm stirs in the night skies above. The target Samurai appears, both Kazami and he prepare for the duel, drawing their swords the lightning strikes Kazami, he awakes 140 years in the future on a film set that is shooting a samurai TV show. The most natural thing for him to do is get work as an extra, after all who knows more about being a samurai than an actual real-life samurai.

What stands out for me in the film is not just the comedy that naturally flows with it, but also the massive heart that is put into the story telling, and the acting of the samurai that is out of his time; Noriimasa Fuke does a wonderful job of portraying Kazami`s strength as a samurai while also seamlessly bringing out his venerable side which is the centre of the story. He has help along the way to becoming a sought after extra/stuntman Setsuko (Ichiko Kurenai) a fight chorographer/sword master who thinks he is mad to want to get involved in a dying industry – there is not much call for these shows anymore, will that change when people start to take notice of Kazami, the authentic Samurai. We also have a love interest Yuko played by Yuno Sakura, all that she wants is to be a director in an industry dominated by males, for now she will put her all into being an assistant director. Kazami`s natural way his honourable manner that is soaked in tradition brings them together forming a strong bond throughout the film. Kazami stays at a temple where a lot of filming takes place for both samurai TV shows and films, he befriends the Priest there. Incidentally this is the same temple that he waited outside all those years ago on that fateful night. One of my favourite scenes and shows how times have changed, is when Kazami is jumped and beaten by three youths, calling them cowards, he knows for sure now that he is in the wrong time and does not belong here. One other stand out scene foe me is the first time that Kazami sees tv and a show, his emotion and tears set the tone for him to become a stuntman/extra. The past is waiting though, as he has drawn attention to himself from someone, who might just know exactly who he is, and what time he is from.
A Samurai in Time was written and directed by Jun`ichi Yasuda woo does a wonderful job of not just structuring the film but also its pacing. Just when you think it is getting a wee bit blah something happens that sparks your interest again. Wonderfully blending laugh out moments of comedy with heart retching moving scenes, all directed tightly in this playfully delightful film.