Is A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1991)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era (1991), audiences are invited back into the world of Drama, Comedy. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "In the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate, there was a cute warrior, Souji Okita, who belonged to the armed police of the shogunate in Kyoto. Very few knew that Souji was not a boy, but a woman. Souji loved the vice-leader of the armed police, Toshizou Hijikata. Souji suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis and coughed up blood during a battle. Toshizou helped her but said that he did not care for the girl with a smell of blood. Souji had a real talent for swordsmanship and no one but Ryouma Sakamoto could compete with her. Ryouma was a liberal intellectual and tried to carry out a revolution without blood. However, the bloody Meiji Restoration broke out and Souji killed Ryouma who lost his dream. Because a friendship had sprung up between Toshizou and Ryouma, Toshizou got angry and slashed at Souji with a sword. Unwillingly, she unsheathed her sword and thought that she might get love if she was killed by the man she loved."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era, Ken Watanabe delivers a performance that anchors the emotional weight of the film. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Drama. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era worth your time? If you appreciate Drama, Comedy films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era is a solid addition to the genre. With a runtime of 102 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Definitely Watch.