Director Keishi Otomo returns to feudal Japan with his newest picture, “The Legend and Butterfly.” Having concluded the live-action “Rurouni Kenshin” film series, Otomo shifts gears for his latest feature, focusing more on real Japanese history, albeit with a heavily fictitious spin in a screenplay by Ryota Kosawa. The story deals with the rise and fall of Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga and explores his relationship with his wife, Nohime. This feature wouldn't be the first time Lord Nobunaga has been depicted in film or television. Still, with a big budget and an all-star cast, this epic was set to sweep away audiences and the box office while commemorating the 70th-anniversary celebration of Toei Company. Yet, despite a strong opening, it quickly dwindled in popularity and was met with mixed reception.
The Legend and Butterfly is screening at Japan Cuts
The story takes place over 30 years, beginning with a politically driven arranged marriage between Lord Oda Nobunaga and Lady No. Nohime initially plans to kill her husband, who also wants nothing to do with her and is intimidated by her fierce demeanor. Yet, the deaths of their fathers and a series of events bring the pair closer together. Eventually, they develop genuine romantic feelings for one another and fall in love. In time, as the couple rise to power, they dream of unifying Japan. However, those goals and their relationship are tested as Nobunaga becomes more violent and determined with each victorious battle, eventually called the “Demon King.” Tensions eventually commentate in a bloody showdown known as the Honno-ji Incident.
Audiences may benefit from familiarizing themselves with feudal Japan's history beforehand. Real historical events and individuals are addressed and followed. The major fictional aspect of the story comes from the romance depicted between Oda Nobunaga and Nohime. Not much is known about their relationship, leading to many rumors and speculations about their dynamic, some of those assumptions even being incorporated into the narrative here. As such, Keishi Otomo weaves a romanticized depiction of their connection while sticking to acknowledging historical truths such as significant events and the people involved. The big question is, even if the feature steers away from reality at times, does “The Legend and Butterfly” succeed as a compelling picture? Sadly, not particularly.
The movie begins with a promising start, setting itself up as a grand epic and a compelling character study with the two leads. Yet, it comes crashing down as it progresses, due to its abysmal writing, devolving into a bland J-drama with a historical backdrop. Subtlety is completely disregarded in its approach to exploring a complex romance and its themes, such as when determination goes too far. Its suspense is almost nonexistent for a political thriller, as there are few stakes to the conflicts within the narrative. It is quite surprising, considering that significant part of Japanese history is a driving force behind everything. In addition, its approach to history is unengaging, with practically a cliff-notes rundown without truly emphasizing the gravity of everything. Whenever it seems like the movie is about to go somewhere dramatically, it backpaddles. Its bland characters and atrocious pacing further hurt the experience. It's as if the screenplay asks viewers to be invested without giving any reason to care about what is happening. Considering Keishi Otomo is a director known for dynamic storytelling and compelling character development, the whole thing comes as a surprise.
The acting is, unfortunately, lackluster, particularly from the two leads. The performances range from painfully wooden to laughably over-the-top. Takuya Kimura and Haruka Ayase are talented actors, but neither is given good material here to work with nor consistent direction to help guide them. Kimura's Oda Nobunaga feels one-dimensional, only bearing the famous warlord's name. He certainly looks the part but is unsuccessful in making the daimyo engaging. Ayase gives a better performance but doesn't fair much better as Nohime, who shows a promising start at the beginning but quickly becomes less interesting as the movie progresses. Worst of all, the romance between the two protagonists falls flat due to their poor chemistry, which also feels forcefully heavy-handed. There is little to say about the supporting cast, with many talents like Takumi Saitoh merely being there to fill a historical role.
The set pieces and production design are undeniably good, and Akiko Ashizawa's cinematography is commendable. The costumes are also on-point. Unfortunately, the action sequences are underwhelming and lackluster. There is little weight to them, and the lack of dramatic engagement makes them a bore to watch. The climax, in particular, is an overly drawn-out melodramatic mess. One fight scene that's downright baffling in its poor execution is when Oda Nobunaga and Nohime battle a legion of beggars. It's underwhelming compared to the impressive choreography of the “Rurouni Kenshin” movies. Lastly, Naoki Sato's music score is rather forgettable.
“The Legend and Butterfly” is a weak effort from Keishi Otomo, a filmmaker who has previously turned out entertaining samurai films. Exquisite set pieces and nice costumes can't save the movie from its terrible script and subpar direction. As a romance drama, it fails to enthrall emotionally; as a historical epic, it is a dull experience. These glaring setbacks make its nearly three-hour runtime frustrating. Viewers are left with a shallow and forgettable period piece by the end.
