The historical epic “Flames of Blood” would be the last fictional outing by Tai Kato. His final filmmaking production was his cinematic documentary “The Ondekoza,” which follows a taiko drum troupe. Based on Koichi Iiboshi’s novel “Aizu no Kotetsu” and starring Bunta Sugawara, Kato takes to the setting of feudal Japan to follow one disgruntled man’s desirable journey for success while history unfolds around him as the Shogunate government and the Emperor clash for power, resulting in violence and the formation of various imperialist and shogunate elite groups, including the Shinsengumi. Madness ensues in this jam-packed film that, while not a masterpiece, is quite good.
Set in mid-19th-century Japan, swordsman and gambler Senkichi is continuously down on his luck despite his unabashed determination for success. He gets into fights, frequently gambles, and abuses alcohol. One night, after being wounded during an ambush at a gambling den, his life is saved by a compassionate blind performer named Orin, who helps heal him, and the two fall in love. They try to start a new life, yet this is challenged as Senkichi gets into trouble while history unfolds in a clash for power between the shogunate and the Emperor. Amidst the brutal violence, warriors conspired against one another and militia groups formed, such as the Shinsengumi, that sought to protect and serve the Tokugawa shogunate. Yet, their hopes and dreams, and those of the two leads, gradually crumble, and tragedy ensues.
Like many films incorporating real history, historical context and familiarity with Japanese culture can enrich the viewing. Even still, Tai Kato intertwines the historical backdrop with Senkichi and Orin’s story as turbulent events, people they interact with, the political climate, and unpredictable settings directly and indirectly affect their lives. Having the audience witness history unfold from outsiders’ perspectives helps viewers understand what it must have been like during this period. With the addition of the leads’ inner conflicts, these elements lead themselves to effective drama that manages to hit hard and feel believable.
Despite its stylish arthouse presentation, the film stays fairly true to historical authenticity, down to documenting prominent events involving the Shinsengumi, such as Kondo Isami assuming the group’s leadership role, the Ikedaya Incident, and eventually the Boshin War. Through all this, Senkichi makes for a compelling lead, a heavily flawed human being yet one that viewers can slowly come to empathize with. Many of the characters he plays off are just as engaging, such as his caring lover Orin, an authoritative oyabun named Seihachi, and Shinsengumi commander Kondo Isami.
For all these great qualities, the film does suffer a bit in terms of pacing. It clocks in at two and a half hours, and unfortunately, it sometimes drags and occasionally feels like the runtime is being padded out. While long takes are a staple in Tai Kato’s filmography, some sections could have been slightly trimmed down. There are also a lot of characters and numerous subplots, and as engaging as it is on a narrative level, it can become difficult to keep track of it all.
“Flames of Blood” features quite a cast. Bunta Sugawara excels as Senkichi, with explosive charisma, and manages to be humorous in parts while also delivering in the dramatic moments. Performing opposite of Sugawara is Mitsuko Baisho, who gives a wonderful, nuanced performance as his gentle lover Orin. Tomisaburo Wakayama, even with brief screen time, leaves a lasting impression as the commanding oyabun Seihachi. Another standout is Makoto Sato in the part of Kondo Isami of the Shinsengumi, who has a strong, commanding presence whenever he’s onscreen.
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Like Tai Kato’s previous period pieces, he does not disappoint. The production, helmed by the independently formed Daiwa Shinsha Co, Ltd, is quite lavish, from the costumes and setpieces to the beautiful cinematography by Keiji Maruyama. There are also many impressively staged violent action sequences sprinkled throughout the picture. If there is a flaw on the technical side, it’s the music score by Hajime Kaburagi. Kaburagi was a very talented composer, and while his soundtrack here isn’t necessarily terrible, the choice for more modern musical compositions, including the use of electric guitars, is quite jarring with the rest of the movie’s direction and does come off as disconnected in some moments, sticking out like a sore thumb. It’s a shame, considering he composed several great scores, including for some of Kato’s previous films.
While “Flames of Blood” doesn’t quite reach the same level as some of Tai Kato’s previous jidaigeki features, it remains a dramatically engaging and well-made movie. For every noticeable flaw, there’s something to appreciate and admire in its storytelling and cinematic approach to Japanese history. It’s also not often viewers get to see the Shinsengumi from an outsider’s perspective.
