Asian Film Festival of Dallas 2009 - ‘Ichi’

From the director of PING-PONG and VEXILLE comes this update of the legendary Zatoichi narrative.

Ichi is a young blind woman who wanders the countryside as a Goze (musician), and runs afoul of the dreaded Banki Gang. Fortunately for her, and for the villagers forced to deal with the gang's criminal activities, Ichi possesses skills far more deadly than her ability to sing and play the shamisen (a traditional three-stringed Japanese guitar). The near-silent and self-sufficient Ichi is accompanied in her travels by a tragic, would-be samurai named Touma. When the local villagers decide that Touma is the one repeatedly slaying Banki thugs, they propose he accept the job of bodyguard to the village master. While the pay looks promising, an impending Banki attack is the last thing on Touma's mind.

ICHI is a beautifully photographed tale of mistaken identities and rediscovered courage, with enough swordplay to keep the action-film aficionados engaged while telling its dramatic story.

Information from the festival's website