Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Sun 21 Nov only
Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Kevin Seymour / Japan / 1993 / 94 min
With the upcoming American election, both candidates are desperate to persuade voters that they’re the right man for US President. To some however, neither will be a suitable choice. Yoshiaki Kawajiri and Kevin Seymour remind us that although ruling systems can be put in place, they will never appeal to everyone. When rural female ninja Kagero’s village is plagued by disease, she attempts to discover the source. Along with travelling ronin Jubei, she is cajoled into joining Shogunate spy Dakuan in a mission to foil the mutinous ninja Genma.
Ninja Scroll delivers everything its title expects; bizarre otherworldly demons, grievously painful weapons and violent yet mesmerising fight scenes. But there is more to its curious adventure. Intertwined amongst the displays of unruly brawling, writer Kawajiri has layered certain feminist attitudes (a woman who kills the man she sleeps with) and anti-government sentiments (frequent lines about not wanting to work for government spies). This political theme is continued in the characters’ motives for defeating Genma, Dakuan is working for the state and Kagero for her village but Jubei, the protagonist, rejects all forms of authority, fighting instead because of a personal vendetta. So while Kawajiri’s cult animation is sometimes gory, it raises interesting questions about authority, rule and how one person’s villain is another person’s saviour.
Showing as part of Scotland Loves Animation 2012.
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