Director: Toshiya Fuhita
Starring: Meiko Kaji, Miyoko Akaza, Toshio Kurosawa, Noboru Nakaya
Certificate: 18
Running Times: 97 minutes & 89 minutes
Extras: Newly translated optional English subtitles, Original uncompressed PCM Mono Audio, Slicing Through the Snow – an exclusive interview with Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, original theatrical trailers for both films, collector’s booklet ‘The Crimson Kimono’ by critic and author Tom Mes, illustrated with original stills.
1970s Japanese cinema is renowned for pushing boundaries of violence and blood – in part due the the rise in TV audiences and movie companies wanting to offer what TV couldn’t. LADY SNOWBLOOD, a product of this, appears on Blu-ray for the first time fully restored along with sequel LADY SNOWBLOOD 2: LOVE SONG OF REVENGE.
Cinema has moved on significantly since LADY SNOWBLOOD’s debut almost 40 years ago and what was once deemed shocking, disgusting, and unacceptable is now shrugged off as the norm. Much of the violence in the LADY SNOWBLOOD films results in heavy streams of blood pouring from seemingly innocuous wounds which, whilst justified when one poor bugger loses his hands, is a distraction from the simple, but strong story following Yuki (Kaji), who dedicates her life to avenging the deaths of her mother, father, and brother at the hands of four tyrants: Okono (Nakahara), Takemura Banz (Nakaya), Shokei Tokuichi (Chii), and Tsukamoto Gishir (Okada).
The beauty of LADY SNOWBLOOD is its structure: unlike most revenge tales the narrative is jumbled. We skip from the present to the past at will, learning Yuki’s story. The film is split into four distinct chapters, each dedicated to Yuki’s targets, which gives LADY SNOWBLOOD authority in its telling, and an empathy so sorely lacking in many movies. Whilst the structure works for the film, there are still issues: Kaji is not particularly believable in the lead role; sadly, and in spite of the character development, it’s difficult to take her seriously during the combat scenes. She holds her sword like you might hold a dog turd on a stick – away from the body and with trepidation – which is a pity as her performance is otherwise excellent. Fortunately, the villains help and ham it up to great effect.
LADY SNOWBLOOD 2: LOVE SONG OF REVENGE picks up shortly after LADY SNOWBLOOD with Yuki on the run from various assassin groups, and the police. More political in tone LOVE SONG OF REVENGE has a stronger story, but isn’t as cohesive as its predecessor, and sadly Kaji still hasn’t learnt how to fight without resembling a flatulent man wafting gas away.
LADY SNOWBLOOD and its sequel are solid if unspectacular pieces of work. They have dated very much in terms of the action and effects on show – even with the faultless restoration, and because of this are not mandatory viewing but there is still plenty to enjoy.
Extras: The interview with Jasper Sharp gives a lovely background to the development of the film, and is interesting enough to warrant your time. The trailers are trailers, whilst the booklet was not available at time of review.
LADY SNOWBLOOD & LADY SNOWBLOOD2: LOVE SONG OF REVENGE are available as a double-pack September 24th and can be purchased here
