Ichi
2008
119 Min
On a quest to find the blind masseur who raised her as a child, sightless but exceptionally skilled swordswoman Ichi (Haruka Ayase) saves the life of a hapless samurai (Takao Osawa), which lands her in the middle of a violent feud between local villagers and a gang of bandits. Directed by Fumihiko Sori, this blood-soaked Japanese action movie features beautifully choreographed fight scenes and fine acting.
The haunting score by Lisa Gerrard really elevates this film, which -as with so many modern Japanese films- fluctuates between the haphazard and the sublime.