Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior 4K 1980

By blind chance or fate, a thief sentenced to death meets the brother of the Takeda clan ruler, who himself occasionally plays the role of his brother's double. Noticing the striking resemblance between the thief and his brother, he saves his life, thinking, “He might come in handy.” It doesn't take long for an opportunity to arise: the ruler is wounded and dies. The thief Kagemusha begins to play his role, gradually slipping into the part. At first, he considered the ruler to be a great villain, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, and could not understand why loyalty and devotion to the clan were necessary when it was much easier to steal, sell, and fill one's belly.

Gradually, he, a man who had never been needed by anyone and had never expected any good or affection from anyone, opens his soul and finds his calling in the shadow of the dead ruler. It seems to him that being a shadow is his calling, and that soon he will be able to replace the late ruler. But he is a small man, and in reality, no one needs him, and his fate is of interest only to him. But who is he, and where is he, and where is the ruler? They have already merged into a single intricate web of gestures, glances, and feelings, and only death can separate them. But it is no longer clear where death is and where life is, who has died and in whom, and who is still alive. Perhaps the thief is a more worthy ruler. Perhaps there never was a thief, perhaps it was just another cunning plan by the ruler. Which of them is more loyal to the clan, and which of them has done more for the clan?

And maybe there is a ruler in every person, not a shadow, not a copy, but a ruler. And maybe this ruler is already ready to ascend the throne. All that is needed is to show him the throne and step aside.