The Violent Beauty of Lady Snowblood

Toshiya Fujita’s chanbara cult classics LADY SNOWBLOOD and LADY SNOWBLOOD: LOVE SONG OF VENGEANCE, now out on Blu-ray and DVD, remain two of the most influential works of their genre. Set in turn-of-the-twentieth-century-Japan and released in the mid-1970s, the revenge saga centers on a young sword-fighting woman who has been raised from birth to avenge the harrowing murders of her family. This clip features the film’s star Meiko Kaji in a scene from LOVE SONG OF VENGEANCE that highlights the films' dazzlingly choreographed combination of visual beauty and unflinching ferocity.

[nightmuffin]

Me enjoying life and being happy while I’m avoiding Negative Thoughts and Low-self Esteem.

[Ryan_Ek]

I love how she looks annoyed that she has to kill all of those men.

[drakashrakenburgproduction]

The camera, her acting, the shadows, the fog, that ominous ambience noise. She is like Death walking across Japan, never stopping until she collects every soul.

[greenmachine]

She is like: "Can I for once just walk through the forest without having to slaughter people?"

[m.a]

What impresses me is that the camera is rolling for one minute continuously and all their moves had to be coordinated for the shot.

[PatrickHogan]

Damn, that's one hell of a shot.

[ananya]

I loved Lady Snowblood(1973). It has that 70s flair. It treated vengeance with more depth rather than stylizing it too much. Meiko Kaji looked like a painting and 'Flower of Carnage' couldn't have been performed better by anyone but her.

[cnl]

I like the badassery in this. The heroine go though her opponents with such disdain, simply to dispose of her annoyance. So much attitude in this... in contrast with Zhang Ziyi's crouching tiger scene at the tea house... that one is more kinetic and rhythmic although just as badass.

[JorraneReiC]

When female characters could be badass yet elegant and feminine. <3
Meiko Kaji is such a stunner.

[synthonaplinth]

The cinematography on both of these films is beyond fantastic.

[HaganeNoGijutsushi]

That face that says "your life is worth less than the number of fucks I'm giving right now".

[robotone]

Everybody: Please 2020 be nice to me.
2020: Lady Snowblood

[jowaadanwarnj]

just finally saw this the other day. So beautiful in HD. The cinematography, the sound, and the ballet-like fight scenes were all awesome. Still haven't seen part 2 yet...

[Proer]

Wearing those wooden sandals all day can really make a woman cranky.

[tconnolly]

This is the Japanese equivalent of a fight scene in the 1960's The Avengers with Mrs Peel.
Ridiculous, but we were really all there to swoon at Diana Rigg no matter how unbelievable it looked.

[bileductable]

Two films that greatly influenced Mr Tarantino

[misssincere]

If they'd stop making those Loud ass noises right before they were going to attack her maybe they would have got her.

[zsoltbartus]

Every filmmaker today should watch and learn from Meiko Kaji. A true badass, yet a beautiful and still feminine lady.

[bmanatees]

Mandatory jidaigeki/chanbara viewing as far as I'm concerned. I received my copy yesterday. Hoping to enjoy the transfers tonight. Thanks Criterion!

[josephmorales]

This is amazing. How have I not known about this?