Kagemusha (1980) Original Rolled Japanese Movie Poster 29x21

Kagemusha is a 1980 historical drama directed by Akira Kurosawa that tells the story of a lowly thief who is chosen to impersonate a powerful warlord, Takeda Shingen, after the real lord is mortally wounded. The clan’s generals use the thief as a decoy to maintain the illusion that Shingen is still alive, hoping to preserve their political power and military stability. As the impersonator becomes more deeply entangled in the role, he begins to internalize the identity and responsibilities of the man he is pretending to be. Set against the backdrop of 16th-century Japan, the film explores themes of identity, power, and illusion, with grand battle scenes and vivid imagery underscoring the emotional weight of the story.