Kozure Ôkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru

English Title: Lone wolf and the cub: Sword of vengeance

Year: 1972

Director: Kenji Misumi

Country: Japan

This is the original "Kill Bill". And better.

Ogami Itto is the official executioner of the Shogun. After the yagyu clan plans to takeover his job, his wife is brutally murdered and Itto is framed for treason. He escapes with his one year old son Daigoro. In a quest for vengeance, he wanders around the country with his son in a baby cart and offering service as an assassin to people who pay enough. Together, the father and the son come to be known as "the lone wolf and the cub".

This film is the perfect example of a samurai film. At some points, even better than "Yojimbo". And Tomisaburo Wakayama is absolutely badass as Ogami Itto. His portrayal of the measured, often silent, yet deadly samurai fares better than Mifune's Yojimbo or Eastwood's "the man with no name". Whenever he takes out the sword, you have hands and legs and heads lying around with blood gushing out from bodies in steady showers. This gory slaughter fest alongwith the wonderful background scores and the beautiful cinematography, makes it a treat to watch.

This is only the first of a six film series. And I hear that the rest are equally good. I can't wait to get my hands on them.