While I love Japanese versions of Western stories (such as Kurosawa's version of Macbeth--THRONE OF BLOOD),I guess I've just never been the biggest fan of the story of Cyrano. I have seen the José Ferrer and Gérard Depardieu versions and this film is at least as good--perhaps a little better due to its wonderful sense of artistry and the acting of Toshiro Mifune (though the other two did great jobs as well). The cinematography is exquisite and the poetic nature of the dialog is wonderful as well. But, because I knew exactly how the story would go, there was no suspense and this prevented the movie from receiving a higher score. THRONE OF BLOOD did receive a higher score because it was so unique in how it approached the material that it was almost a completely different story, but this one never veered far enough off course to make it more watchable. Excellent, but familiar.

The Japanese version of the famous play 'Cyrano de Bergerac', which tells the story of Komaki, a samurai/poet with a huge nose, who falls in love with a woman who loves another man.

It was the first film to feature Toshiro Mifune that I saw, outside the 'Kurosawa saga', and it is evident that he was not a product of Kurosawa, but rather a natural actor, one of the best that has ever been in cinema, in my opinion.

The narrative begins with a slow pace, but becomes exciting and with moments of great quality action as we enter the second act of the film.

It pulls on the viewer's feelings and emotions, in a subtle way, and leads him to sometimes have to choose between which character "deserves" to have a happy ending.

It is a poetic tragedy, well written, performed and that touches anyone, even those that aren't confortable with the Japanese cinematographic universe.

Yes, it works! With Toshiro Mifune at his magnificent best it works remarkably well. Edmund Rostand's Cyrano was translated into Japanese early in its life. Consequently, it became a part of Japanese culture. That means that the more the Japanese sample and absorb from other cultures, the more fundamentally Japanese they become.

Toshiro Mifune is totally original and compelling as the Cyrano character. No, his nose does not proceed him by a quarter hour, like Rostand's French original. In Japan, large noses are relatively flat and spread out across the face. This Cyrano writes haiku and duels in classic Samurai style. Mifune is scruffy, earthy and throroughly engaging.

Some understandable liberties have been taken with Rostand's plot in order to make it consistent with Japanese culture. However, the climax remains absolutely consistent. It is as deeply felt and as moving as any Cyrano you will ever see. It is set in a a walled cherry orchard. As Mifune is dying, the cherry blossoms fall like snowflakes. Cyrano's dying words, "I fight on...", need no translation.

For fans of Cyrano; or Toshiro Mifune; or Samurai films; or great romantic stories; or even if you've never particularly liked any of them, this is one you don't want to miss.