Revenge (Adauchi) – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1964
Director: Tadashi Imai
Writer: Shinobu Hashimoto
Cast: Kinnosuke Nakamura, Tetsurô Tanba, Yoshiko Mita, Takahiro Tamura, Ai Sasaki, Yoshi Katô

Release Date: June 19th, 2023
Approximate running time: 103 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £18.99 (UK)

"An innocuous comment during a weapon inspection wounds the pride of low-ranking samurai Shinpachi (Kinnosuke Nakamura), leading to an argument with his superior. The situation snowballs out of control, leading to a deadly duel and political fallout which threatens the entire clan." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "a 2K restoration of the original film elements."

Revenge (Adauchi) comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray. 

Disc Size: 37.5 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

Though the transfer is in great shape, it has been cleaned up, and there are no issues with source debris or damage. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong throughout, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. That said, range-wise, things are satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay by Jasper Sharp titled The Enemy Within: Power and Politics in the Films of Tadashi Imai (15 minutes 57 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Tony Rayns who discusses Revenge (Adauchi) and the Films of Tadashi Imai (22 minutes 5 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a booklet with cast & crew information, an essay written by Tom Mes, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Revenge (Adauchi) is an action/melodrama that explores the Bushido code and the feudal system. The narrative revolves around Shinpachi, a low-ranking samurai whose argument with one of his superiors leads to a duel, leading to political fallout that can only be resolved by Shinpachi’s death.

Before anyone is introduced, the first words spoken are about an impending duel. These dialogic exchanges set the stage for what follows. The narrative does a fantastic job building towards the duel by establishing who everyone is, the events that lead to the duel, and culminating in said duel.

Despite the duel being the centerpiece of Revenge (Adauchi), it is actually a dialogue-driven film that only has two on-screen moments of carnage. That said, there is one duel that occurs mostly offscreen. Despite saving its bloodiest moment for the climatic duel, it is a brutal sequence in which Shinpachi quickly finds himself betrayed and outnumbered instead of in a duel.

The cast is all very good in their roles, especially Kinnosuke Nakamura (The Fall of Ako Castle) in the role of Shinpachi. He does a great job capturing Shinpachi’s deteriorating state of mind, making his impending madness all the more potent. Another performance of note is Tetsurô Tanba (Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight) in the role of a samurai named Okuno Shume; his brother was killed by Shinpachi.

Though duels are about restoring honor, the duel in Revenge (Adauchi) becomes a spectacle that resembles a sporting event more than a traditional duel. And once the duel begins, it becomes clear that it is not going to be a fair fight.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where Revenge (Adauchi) does not deliver and then some. The well-executed narrative is perfectly paced; it does a phenomenal job building and maintaining tension, all leading to an unforgettable finale. Also, Revenge (Adauchi) is a beautifully photographed film, especially when it comes to the two on-screen duels. Ultimately, Revenge (Adauchi) is an exemplary film that is a must-see if you're a fan of samurai films.

Revenge (Adauchi) gets a first-rate release from Eureka Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of insightful extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer