is a 2001 Japanese

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

directed by

Shinsuke Sato is a Japanese filmmaker, screenwriter and video game designer. He has directed several live-action film adaptations of manga and anime, including ''The Princess Blade'' (2001), ''Gantz'' (2011), ''I Am a Hero'' (2015), ''Bleach'' (2018), ''Inuya ...

. It is a reimagining of the

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

'' Lady Snowblood'' by

Kazuo Koike was a prolific Japanese manga writer ( gensakusha), novelist, screenwriter, lyricist and entrepreneur. He is best known for his violent, artful ''seinen'' manga, notably ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' (with Goseki Kojima, 1970–6), '' Lady Snowblood'' ...

and

Kazuo Kamimura was a Japanese manga artist, best known as the illustrator of ''Lady Snowblood (manga), Lady Snowblood'', which was adapted into Lady Snowblood (film), film in 1973. Hitoshi Iwaaki, a manga artist was his assistant. Kamimura died at age 45 of a p ...

Story

Yuki is the last surviving

royal Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

of the House of Takemikazuchi, who live in a

futuristic The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...

post-apocalyptic Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astro ...

isolationist world, where they use their skills as former

Mikado Mikado may refer to: * Emperor of Japan or Arts and entertainment * ''The Mikado'', an 1885 comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan * ''The Mikado'' (1939 film), an adaptation of the opera, directed by Victor Schertzinger * ''The Mikado'' (1967 f ...

guards to become hired assassins. The wise old

sage Sage or SAGE may refer to: Plants * ''Salvia officinalis'', common sage, a small evergreen subshrub used as a culinary herb ** Lamiaceae, a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family ** ''Salvia'', a large ...

Kuka, who was once Yuki's mother's bodyguard, gives Yuki information that changes her life—and her destiny. She discovers that the criminal Byakurai has a dangerous connection to her. After learning this information, she chooses to leave the House of Takemikazuchi. She soon encounters Takashi, leader of the rebel movement, who offers Yuki a chance at revenge—and perhaps love. They soon discover similarities, for they are both trying to escape the past to start new lives.

Cast

Yumiko Shaku is a Japanese actress, model and former gravure idol. She is represented by Tommy's Artist Company. Roles TV Dramas *2019: ''Kamen Rider Zi-O'' (Yuko Kitajima/ Another Kiva; Episode 35-36, 2019) *2014: '' Lost Days no Himitsu'' (Fuji Telev ...

as Yuki *

Hideaki Itō is a Japanese actor. Biography Ito is best known for starring in the hit franchise ''Umizaru'' film series which consistently topped the Japanese box office of the year. He has also head-lined many other major Japanese films such as Takashi M ...

as Takashi *

Shiro Sano Shiro, Shirō, Shirow or Shirou may refer to: People * Amakusa Shirō (1621–1638), leader of the Shimabara Rebellion * Ken Shiro (born 1992), Japanese boxer * Shiro Azumi, Japanese football player 1923–1925 * Shiro Ichinoseki (born 1944), ...

as Kidokoro *

Yoichi Numata (19 July 1924 – 29 April 2006) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in 27 films between 1949 and 2001. Selected filmography * ''Man in the Storm'' (1950) * ''Yellow Crow'' (1957) * '' Jigoku'' (1960) * ''The Ghost Cat of Otama Pond'' ( ...

as Kuka *

Kyūsaku Shimada is a Japanese actor. History Shimada was originally part of the Tokyo Grand Guignol Theater group, formed by artist Norimizu Ameya. He stayed with the group until its dissolution in 1986. One of the productions the group undertook was an adaptat ...

as Byakurai * Yoko Chosokabe as Soma * Yōko Maki as Aya *

Naomasa Musaka Naomasa (written: 直政, 直正, 直方, 尚正 or 尚政) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese samurai *, Japanese samurai *, Japanese ''daimyō'' *, Japanese ''daimyō'' *, Japanese ''daimyō'' * ...

as Kiri *

Yutaka Matsushige is a Japanese actor. Career Matsushige has appeared in the films such as ''EM Embalming'', ''Adrenaline Drive'', ''Last Life in the Universe'', and ''Outrage Beyond''. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 31st Yokohama Film Festiv ...

as Anka * Shintarō Sonooka as Chain Wielder *

Takashi Tsukamoto is a Japanese actor, singer, and model. He has released three single CDs: "Itsudemo Boku wa" (いつでも僕は, Anytime I am...), "Hitorigoto" (ヒ・ト・リ・ゴ・ト, Soliloquy), "New Morning". He also portrayed the character Shinji Mi ...

as Takashi's Friend

External links

* * * 2001 films 2001 science fiction action films Live-action films based on manga Films directed by Shinsuke Sato Japanese science fiction action films 2000s Japanese-language films Japanese martial arts films Japanese post-apocalyptic films Samurai films Discotek Media Films scored by Kenji Kawai 2000s Japanese films {{martialart-film-stub ja:修羅雪姫