Ask This of Rikyu

A stately, contemplative historical drama of beauty and quiet conviction, unfolding with slow ceremony toward an inevitable, sorrowful end.

Directed by

Mitsutoshi Tanaka

Genres

Drama, History, Romance

Starring

Ichikawa Ebizo XI, Miki Nakatani, Nao Omori

Overview

Sen no Rikyu (Ebizo Ichikawa) is the son of a fish shop owner. Sen no Rikyu then studies tea and eventually becomes one of the primary influences upon the Japanese tea ceremony. With his elegant esthetics, Sen no Rikyu is favored by the most powerful man in Japan Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Nao Omori) and becomes one of his closest advisors. Due to conflicts, Toyotomi Hideyoshi then orders Sen no Rikyu to commit seppuku (suicide). Director Mitsutoshi Tanaka's adaptation of Kenichi Yamamoto's award-winning novel of the same name received the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 37th Montréal World Film Festival, the Best Director Award at the 2014 Osaka Cinema Festival, the 30th Fumiko Yamaji Cultural Award and the 37th Japan Academy Film Prize in nine categories, including Best Art Direction, Excellent Film and Excellent Actor.

How it feels

Melancholic, earnest, tense and dark. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

Art, power, betrayal, morality

Content

Mild violence, gore and sexual content. No swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)