SAMURAI MARATHON

Inspired by a true-life race still held annually in Japan, SAMURAI MARATHON is an action-led film with a samurai twist.

The story follows a young ninja (Takeru Satoh) who is operating undercover in the court of an aging Lord, during a peaceful era in feudal Japan that is on the brink of change. After the Lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test.

Into the mix comes the Lord’s rebellious daughter, Princess Yuki (Nana Komatsu), a heroine who escapes the castle to take part in the dangerous marathon in disguise. Facing impossible odds, this unusual band of characters are running to win or die.

Visionary British director Bernard Rose (Candyman, Immortal Beloved, Ivan’s XTC), co-wrote the script and directed the film. Producerd by Academy Award winner Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor, Sexy Beast, Kon-Tiki) and Toshiaki Nakazawa, Academy Award winner for Departures. The two partnered on Takashi Miike's wildly successful 13 Assassins.

Philip Glass, one of the world’s prominent composers (The Truman Show, The Hours, Stoker, Stranger Things), has composed a wonderful original score.

Emi Wada designed the costumes, who was Kurosawa’s designer and won an Academy Award for Ran. The cinematographer is Takuro Ishizaka, who shot Manhunt for John Woo.

Japan, UK | Japanese, English | 2019 | 103 min | HD