The Sea Watches

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The Sea Watches

R

2003

1h 59m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

71%

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1,000+ Ratings

In mid-19th-century Japan, geisha O-Shin (Nagiko Tono) works alongside tough-minded veteran Kikuno (Misa Shimizu). O-Shin falls in love with samurai Fusanosuke (Hidetaka Yoshioka) after hiding him from a man he injured in a fight. Though geisha are not supposed to become emotionally involved with their clients, O-Shin decides to defy tradition and marry Fusanosuke. When he abandons her, heartbroken O-Shin becomes involved with another samurai, Ryosuke (Masatoshi Nagase).

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

10/24/2003

2.5/4

It has been directed by Kei Kumai as a film that seems more melodramatic and sentimental than Kurosawa's norm.

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

10/23/2003

3.5/4

Filled with love and melancholy, it's a fitting, fond epilogue to [Kurosawa].

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Glenn Lovell

San Jose Mercury News

07/25/2003

2/4

I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb by saying the Sea that Kurosawa must have envisioned had to be a whole lot more compelling and focused than the one now delivered by veteran director Kei Kumai.

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Panos Kotzathanasis

Asian Movie Pulse

05/12/2024

7

Although not of the caliber of Kurosawa movies, it still a very competently written, shot, directed and acted film that manages to shed light in an aspect of the Japanese society of the samurai era that is not exactly common in the country's cinema.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

10/13/2005

2/5

Paul Sherman

Boston Herald

07/16/2005

2/4

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Richard D

@Knight_of_the_beach 3d

I found "The Sea is Watching" to be fascinating like the other movies that I have seen by Kurosawa who died before completing this movie. I was drawn to this movie because of its title as I am an old school hardcore beach bum and love anything about the sea. I saw this movie years ago and the ending scene stuck in my mind. And after searching for well over roughly 15 years, I finally found it again.

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03/06/2021

Based on a screenplay by Kurosawa Akira this is a well paced tale of prostitutes, not geisha, dealing with day to day life the best they can.

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01/23/2013

It's like Little Women with well-mannered bitches. What's not to love, haters?

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Frances H

10/15/2012

Although interesting as a script, Kurosawa's hand in directing was necessary to make this into a better movie.

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09/14/2012

One of the prettiest movies I've ever seen.

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05/12/2011

I don't usually watch japanese movies, but this one really caught me... even though there was a lot drama, I liked it :)

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Kei Kumai

Director

Misa Shimizu

Kikuno

Masatoshi Nagase

Ryosuke

Hidetaka Yoshioka

Fusanosuke

Nagiko Tono

Oshin

Akira Kurosawa

Writer

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Synopsis

In mid-19th-century Japan, geisha O-Shin (Nagiko Tono) works alongside tough-minded veteran Kikuno (Misa Shimizu). O-Shin falls in love with samurai Fusanosuke (Hidetaka Yoshioka) after hiding him from a man he injured in a fight. Though geisha are not supposed to become emotionally involved with their clients, O-Shin decides to defy tradition and marry Fusanosuke. When he abandons her, heartbroken O-Shin becomes involved with another samurai, Ryosuke (Masatoshi Nagase).

Director: Kei Kumai
Screenwriter: Akira Kurosawa, Shûgorô Yamamoto
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Production Co: Nikkatsu Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 5, 2003, Original
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital