Synopsis

TITLE: Samurai Hoe-down

AUTHOR / CREATOR: Dávid Kolodny-Nagy

TIME: End of feudal ages in Japan

GENRES: Samurai Action, Drama, Comedy

LOG LINE: A down-and-out samurai must compete in the Samurai Hoe-down, a championship match whose outcome will determine the fate of Japan.

 

Samurai Hoe-down is a wild and wacky take on the samurai genre. Apologies to Kurosawa. This anachronistic tale may seem a serious look at life in old Japan at a glance but is actually pokes fun every chance it gets. It's Yojimbo meets Naked Gun.

Hiromatsu is a dishonored samurai. He serves his feudal lord, Unkeimpt. He was once the best samurai in the land until he failed his lord three years ago. Three years ago Hiromatsu was protector to his lord's daughter, Icchi, but a mysterious and unknown ninja abducted her as Hiromatsu slipped on his booze bottle. After that day he lost all respect and was shamed by the community. He searched desperately for the leader of the ninja clan in order to rescue Icchi and regain his honor but he failed. He has since begun drinking heavily in order to ease the pain of dishonor and his samurai training has slipped.

 

But now his lord has summoned him once more and deemed him the samurai to carry out a secret mission. The other samurai are busy doing their laundry and besides, he's expendable. He must retrieve a mysterious stolen chest from Shanag, a Japanese revolutionary. Lord Unkeimpt promises Hiromatsu a chance to regain his honor if he succeeds although the danger of the mission will probably mean his death. Hiromatsu will need to infiltrate the Samurai Hoe-down, a competition between the most skilled fighters- recently updated to include the Western art of square dancing. Hiromatsu accepts the mission. Although lacking the confidence in his skills, Hiromatsu desperately wants to regain his honor. Little does Hiromatsu know that his success or failure will determine the fate of all Japan.

 

THEMES: Samurai Hoe-down is primarily a story of redemption. However, Hiromatsu's challenge is not merely to redeem himself in the eyes of his lord, but to redeem himself in his own eyes. Freedom is also an important theme as Hiromatsu must come to accept himself as an individual who is wise and strong enough to live life by his own terms and not rely upon the instructions of his lord. Hiromatsu has a tough journey ahead of him as he has to regain his samurai skills keep off of the bottle.

 

Cultural identity is another important theme. In this anachronistic tale Americans tourists have already made their way to Japan and are putting pressure upon traditional Japanese government and lifestyles. Change is in the air but whether the change will be for the best is uncertain.