Rikyu (film)

Rikyu , Riky? , 1989 is Hiroshi Teshigaharas film about the 16th century master of the Japanese tea ceremony, Sen no Riky. The film focuses on the late stages of life of Riky, during the highly turbulent Sengoku period of feudal Japan. It starts near the end of Oda Nobunagas reign, with Riky serving as tea master to Nobunaga, and continues into the Momoyama Period. Riky is portrayed as a man thoroughly dedicated to aesthetics and perfection, especially in relation to the art of tea. While serving as tea master to the new ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Riky finds himself in a uniquely privileged position, with constant access to the powerful feudal lord and the theoretical ability to influence policy, yet he studiously avoids deep involvement in politics while attempting to focus his full attention to the study and teachings of the way of tea. To the extent that he expresses himself, he does so diplomatically, in a way to avoid disrupting the harmony of his relationship with Hideyoshi. Yet, as society is changed violently and radically around him, also finding himself the focus of jealousy and misdirected suspicions, Riky ultimately can not avoid confronting larger social issues. He is compelled to express an opinion on Hideyoshis military plans. This one breach of his studied isolation from world affairs leads quickly to tragic consequences.

Rentar Mikuni won the Best Actor Award of the Japanese Academy for his roles in this film and Tsuribaka Nisshi of the same year. He also won four other Japanese acting awards for the role. Tru Takemitsu won the Japanese Academy award for best musical score. Director Hiroshi Teshigahara won awards from the Berlin International Film Festival, and the Montral World Film Festival. The film was selected as the Japanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 62nd Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.

Source: Wikipedia