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Kagemusha (1980)

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · Cinematography by Shoji Ueda, Takao Saitō

PG162 min63 frames

ActionDramaHistoryWar

The Shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own.

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Stills, screencaps & shots from Kagemusha

16 of 63 frames — the full set is searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, color and mood with a free account.

Kagemusha (1980) movie still: closeup — A man stands amidst vertical stalks of green bamboo in an outdoor setting. The man grips the bamboo poles…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A vast, dry, and barren field under a clear blue sky in daytime. Three riders on horseback face a distant, long…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A traditional wooden interior features dark shoji-style walls and a central carved wooden panel. A man faces an…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: medium — A dark night battlefield features a lone figure in traditional samurai armor. The warrior stands centered,…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: fullbody — A traditional Japanese room features dark wooden slat walls and a floor-level platform. Four people sit in…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A wooden interior room with lattice windows features six men in samurai armor. They sit in a circle on the…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A dark wooden room features a prominent crest mounted on the wall behind the group. Seven men in traditional…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A dark, wood-paneled room in a traditional Japanese structure features arched lattice windows. Several men in…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A vast field under a dramatic dark red and grey sunset sky. A small group of silhouetted riders on horseback…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — Three men in traditional robes sit in a row on floor mats. A dark wooden wall features a large, symmetrical…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A vast, barren dirt field stretches toward a clear, pale horizon under bright sunlight. Many soldiers in…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: medium — A man stands centered against a smooth, solid-colored wall inside a minimalist room. He wears traditional…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A view through a triangular stone opening reveals an outdoor courtyard with a dirt surface. A crowd of people…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: medium — A theatrical stage set features a stylized, painted backdrop with dramatic purple lighting. An elderly man in…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: wide — A long line of samurai warriors on horses rides along a dark, empty beach. A prominent rainbow stretches…Kagemusha (1980) movie still: closeup — An outdoor location with a blurred treeline visible in the bright background. A man wearing a dark samurai…
Kagemusha (1980) — © TOHO, 20th Century Fox

Kagemusha — official trailer

What is Kagemusha about?

Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.

Where can you watch Kagemusha?

US availability for Kagemusha (1980). Data by JustWatch, listings on TMDB. Availability changes — check the provider for current listings.

Who stars in Kagemusha?

Who made Kagemusha?

What does the cinematography of Kagemusha look like?

Sampled across 63 frames, the coverage of Kagemusha leans on wide compositions (60% of the sample) and medium shots (17%). Cinematographer Shoji Ueda keeps 59% of it in soft, naturalistic light. This is largely a daylight film — 62% of the frames play in daylight. Deep focus keeps foreground and background readable at once in 86% of the frames. The production design places the film in the 1900s and 1910s.

What is the color palette of Kagemusha?

The dominant colors across the sampled frames of Kagemusha (1980) are #322f2d, #0d0b0a, #48372c, #57524d, #d1d1cc, #2f261b — measured from the per-frame color data FrameThrower extracts for every film.

  • #322f2d
  • #0d0b0a
  • #48372c
  • #57524d
  • #d1d1cc
  • #2f261b

See the full Kagemusha colour palette — every hex with its share, plus warmth, saturation and luminance.

Kagemusha ranks in

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Techniques in this film

More films by Akira Kurosawa

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