Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was an unrivalled swordsman who became renowned through stories of his distinctive style and excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels. He wrote a master treatise on military strategy, The Book of Five Rings and sought the way to enlighten his spirit and cultivate his mind. But could his image have been fabricated by the generations that followed? With The Book of Five Rings as his guide, scriptwriter Mamoru Oshii unsheathes his unique vision of the greatest swordsman in Japanese history, cynically demolishing many clichés deeply rooted in popular imagery. An unusual and controversial portrayal of this legendary, multifaceted character, between spectacular duels and a tragic life in pursuit of greatness in the days when internal wars in Japan had virtually ended. Is he a national hero fabricated for political purposes, or a universal man misplaced in time?

This program screened as part of HAFF 2009