Review of Red Lion (1969) by Angela A — 03 Nov 2007

A criminally underrated film. In terms of acting alone, Red Lion may represent a high water mark in Toshiro Mifune's extraordinary career.

Set in a period of political upheaval at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate's 300 year rule, Red Lion tells the tale of Gonzo (Mifune), a dim witted peasant soldier in the army of the Imperial Restoration Force. He manages to convince his commander to let him go to his hometown in advance of the troops to convince the villagers of the benefits of the regime change. Borrowing his captain's red Lion's Mane headpiece, he arrives to a hero's welcome and instantly starts to dismantle the rule of the corrupt officials who have enslaved the people. However, things are not as simple as they appear and the jubilation caused by Gonzo's reforms is to be short lived.

The film starts out as a comedy, and ends as a damning indictement of political hypocrisy. It features some fabulous acting by all involved and some wonderful relationships are developed, particularly the grudging comradery that builds between Gonzo and the ronin Hanzo (Etsushi Takahashi), and that between Gonzo and his liberated prostitute girlfriend Tomi (Shima Iwashita).

It also features some great chambara action which should please the slash fanatics.

Mostly, though, Red Lion stands out as a heart warming and deeply moving character piece about an honest but naive man caught in the maelstrom of politics. Truly magnificent, and quite possiby on a par with the best of Mifune's Kurosawa pieces.