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Tatsuya Fujiwara, Satoshi Tsumabuki

Take a trip back to the Tokugawa era for this tale of friendship and loyalty from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike. When Eiji is wrongly imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit, his ba... read more read more...d luck takes a turn for the worse when he is sent to an Ishikawa workhouse to perform hard labor. As Eiji attempts to survive the physical and mental torments of his incarceration, his lifelong friend Sabu struggles in the outside to seek out the man who truly perpetrated the crime before the bleak realities of prison life drive Eiji to a point beyond recovery. Adapted from writer Shugoro Yamamoto's classic novel, this unforgettable tale of courage is sure to remain with viewers and offer a new perspective on director Miike's wildly varied filmography. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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61% liked it

672 ratings

Unrated, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Release Date: May 14, 2002

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DVD Release Date: April 12, 2005

Stats: 43 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (43)


  • May 25, 2008
    Sabu is a very solid period drama about two friends who are caught up in the ultimate test. As Eiji is sent off to a prison/labor work camp on an island for a crime he didn't commit Sabu is determined to keep his spirits up and clear every thing up for him. Over the course of t... read morehe story all the characters change and the lives of all come together as most of the main characters become adults. The character of Nobuko and her pimp which ends up on the island with Eiji was the most powerful part of the film. The film is about growing up and forgiving those who have harmed you for the sake of those you love. The movie ended with a delicate note and well deserved all the high praise it got. It's new territory for Miike, but he did it well.
  • January 18, 2008
    Good made for Japanese television film by Miike. Some great visuals in this somewhat tame outing from the master of the bizarre.
  • September 20, 2007
    probably one of the slowest movies i have ever seen. this was one of takashi miike's more tame films. i love tatsuya fujiwara but this movie was bad.
  • March 4, 2007
    This is probably my least favorite Takashi Miike movie as he takes on the drama genre once again. I'm not Japanese, so I'm probably missing a lot of key elements. Basically, this movie depicts the journey of one character as you see what comes of him after so many years. There... read more are transitions back and forth between childhood years and the present. It was really hard to sit through this one till the end. I would recommend the Dead or Alive series or Ichi the Killer instead.

Critic Reviews


David Nusair
August 3, 2004
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...an incredibly slow-paced and ultimately pointless historical drama... Full Review

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  • In "Caddyshack," who said, "Hey Sabu, can you make a bull shot"?  Answer »
  • Beginning at age 13 in 1937, this Indian actor appeared in 23 movies, the last being in 1964. Nearly all used the jungles of India as a background. His roles were generally as a handsome teenager with an affinity for animals of the jungle. What was this actor's name?   Answer »

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