Year: 1973
Director: Toshiya Fujita
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Lady Snowblood and Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)—the flamboyant sequel that prematurely wrapped up this saga of retribution as poetry—originated in a popular manga written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Kazuo Kamimura. Quentin Tarantino copy + pasted much of the material in this film to make Kill Bill. Don't be fooled however, Lady Snowblood is far superior to anything that hack could cook up.
Yuki's family is nearly wiped out before she is born due to the machinations of a band of criminals. These criminals kidnap and brutalize her mother but leave her alive. She has a child, and trains that child as a vengeful assassin.
Directed by Toshiya Fujita, Lady Snowblood is a perfect mix of mythic representation, Buddhist fatalism and pulp absurdism. It depicts a clash of a violently displacing, Westernizing modernity pitted against the organic, agrarian past. This in particular is set during a transition period in Japan; when it transformed itself from an isolated, still halfway-feudal society into an imperialist powerhouse to rival the West.
Covering a period in the mid 19th Century, Lady Snowblood manages to be a visually enticing period piece with engaging set pieces and memorable costumes. Even though the film is bloody and violent, the choreography is often graceful and well composed. The narrative itself is fairly interesting and unique, often introducing flashbacks within flashbacks. Despite this odd style, the film is never hard to follow.
Overall I greatly enjoyed Lady Snowblood. The fight scenes are memorable, complimented by great acting, directing and cinematography. Fujita has created a work that will live long after the artist. Its presence can be felt in many modern American pictures.
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