The Phoenix (1978)
Original title: 火の鳥
The Phoenix is a 1978 Japanese-language adventure movie directed by Kon Ichikawa, with a running time of 2h 17m. It stars Jun Fubuki, Tomisaburō Wakayama and Toshinori Omi.
This extraordinarily complex film is not only a send-up of every samurai film ever made, it is also an extrapolation of the value of life. The Yamatai, represented by Prince Susano-O and elderly advisor Sumuke, hire Yumihiko of Matsuro to hunt the phoenix so that Queen Himiko, sister of Susano-O can have eteranal life.
Cast
- Jun Fubuki as Oro
- Tomisaburō Wakayama as Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai
- Toshinori Omi as Nagi
- Masao Kusakari as Yumihiko of Matsuro
- Kaoru Yumi as Uzume, a dancer from Matsuro
- Ken Tanaka as Takeru
- Reiko Ōhara as Hinaku
- Tohru Emori as Susanoo
- Ryūzō Hayashi as Guzuri
- Mieko Takamine as Queen Himiko of Yamatai
- Tatsuya Nakadai as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
- Mitsuko Kusabue as Iyo