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How others will see it. This interesting and competent Samurai morality tale doesn't have the quality of Kurosawa's better known adventures in similar territory. Nonetheless, those who enjoy the Japanese equivalent of a western will likely be pleased by this workmanlike effort.
How I felt about it. The casting and acting is good. My quarrel is with the story. The basic plot has Moritoh blustering about for Kesa, who wants no part of him. This is actually a change of pace from most Samurai movies, which deal with larger scale stories such as the fate of a dynasty or village. The problems, then, are not with the theme, but the way it is executed.
The first difficulty I had was with Kesa fainting in her carriage. Her life is in peril, and warriors are fighting to the death within her sight, and she passes out! After Moritoh spirits her carriage away, in chaotic and unlikely fashion, he lays her out on his porch, which just happens to be nearby, and revives her by spitting on her! Such an insult to a woman from the Imperial court.
During the rebellion's final hour, Moritoh announces himself loyal to Kiyomori when alone against a group of rebel warriors. But he is neither killed nor detained.
The rebellion is quashed, but how? Lord Kiyomori only has fifty men. His victory isn't depicted, but provided by narration, hardly cinematic. Other key scenes are also omitted by the director, such as Kesa's second audience with Lord Kiyomori.
Moritoh receives the honor of audience with his master, at a time when he can name his reward. While others claim powerful positions, he asks only for marriage to Kesa. He further loses face when it is found she is already married to Waturu, and doesn't want him.
A Samurai would rather die than be disgraced. Moritoh can only redeem his rash and stupid recent actions by winning Kesa. He is compelled into increasingly exaggerated and shameful behavior to try to force Kesa his way, even though these same acts only further repel her. Sometimes it is best to be practical, and give up. Moritoh, immersed in Samurai tradition, cannot do this.
Kesa's clearly arranged self-sacrifice to spare her husband demonstrates the abilities of a woman to mask her true intentions and feelings to achieve an end. Her performance does not impress her husband, whose life benefits from her actions. He feels betrayed by her lack of confidence in him, rather than anger toward Moritoh, whose course was determined (admittedly, in misguided fashion) by Samurai code.