Movies like Rikyu
If you like "Rikyu" you are looking for serious, captivating and realistic movies about / with samurai, medieval, painter, painting, art, buddhism and clan themes of Biography, Drama and History genre shot in Japan.
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Rikyu (1989)
912
Original name: 利休
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
Late in the 1500s, an aging tea master teaches the way of tea to a headstrong Shogun. Through force of will and courageous fighting, Hideyoshi becomes Japan's most powerful warlord, unifying the country. Rikyu, through the tea ceremony and floral arrangements, tempers his lord, helping Hideyoshi focus on a single flower or be in a simple room where the shape of a cup is of most importance. But other forces fuel Hideyoshi's ambitions: the Portuguese bring a globe and guns, and he believes he can conquer Korea and China. When Rikyu raises doubts about invading China, Hideyoshi demands an apology, and Rikyu himself must find courage in the way of tea.
Style:
serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative, stylized, jidai geki
Plot:
samurai, medieval, painter, painting, art, buddhism, clan, samurai sword, great ending, old man, tea, tradition, biopic, war, heroes, military, politics, battles, rise to the top, society, ambition, clergy, political unrest, state affairs, japanese culture ...
Time:
medieval times, 16th century, 1500s
Place:
japan, china, asia, korea
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to Rikyu
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out serious, realistic, captivating and epic films with plots about medieval, heroes, society, state affairs, samurai, ambition and rivalry mostly in Drama, History and Biography genres. Some movies like Rikyu: Death of a Tea Master (1989), When the Last Sword is Drawn (2002), Shogun (1980), Heaven and Earth (1990), Samurai Banners (1969). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
Years after the death of legendary tea master Rikyu, his disciple Honkakubo attempts to resolve the mystery of the master's death.
Style:
art house, meditative, jidai geki, period drama, f word
Plot:
ritual, philosophy, samurai, flashback, biopic, spirituality, memory, minimalism, legacy, political intrigue, samurai era, visionary ...
Time:
16th century
Place:
japan
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 143 min.
Story:
Kanichiro Yoshimura is a Samurai and Family man who can no longer support his wife and children on the the low pay he receives from his small town clan, he is forced by the love for his family to leave for the city in search of higher pay to support ...
Style:
atmospheric, captivating, realistic, bleak, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, japanese history, sword fight, tragic hero, human spirit, life is a bitch, political unrest, duel, emperor, martial arts, unfulfillment, hopes ...
Time:
19th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 159 min.
Story:
In the 16th Century, a Dutch ship sails the Pacific from the Americas in order to escape the Spanish. Blackthorn is the pilot of the ship and the first to realize the possibilities of Japan. Japan is a feudal society which has a strong presence of ...
Style:
realistic, captivating, serious, exciting, saga
Plot:
samurai, feudal japan, seafaring, shogun, jesuit, politics, war, heroes, escapades, betrayal, sword duel, samurai sword ...
Time:
17th century, 16th century, middle ages
Place:
japan, portugal
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
Warlords Kagetora and Takeda each wish to prevent the other from gaining hegemony in feudal Japan. The two samurai leaders pursue one another across the countryside, engaging in massive battles of cavalry and infantry. Younger and less brutal, ...
Style:
psychotronic, visually appealing, cult classic, epic, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, medieval, japanese history, katana, fight, legends and myths, ancient, siege, strong violent content, battles, family relations, chaos ...
Time:
medieval times, 16th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
100%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 165 min.
Story:
Feudal Japan, 1543 to 1562. Kansuke Yamamoto is a samurai who dreams of a country united, peaceful from sea to sea. He enters the service of Takeda, the lord of Kai domain. He convinces Takeda to kill the lord of neighboring Suwa and take his wife ...
Style:
serious, realistic, captivating, stylized, jidai geki
Plot:
samurai, power relations, politics, military, state affairs, betrayal, dishonesty, heroes, master warrior, fall in love, medieval, samurai sword ...
Time:
16th century, medieval times
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
59%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
During the confusing and conspiratorial Joseon Dynasty King Gwang-hae orders his councilor, HEO Kyun, to find him a double in order to avoid the constant threat of assassination. HEO Kyun finds Ha-sun, a jester who looks remarkably like the king, ...
Style:
suspenseful, captivating, stylized, realistic, inspirational ...
Plot:
joseon dynasty, throne, medieval, royal court, korean history, hidden identity, treason, political intrigue, save the kingdom, ruler, political conspiracy, head of state ...
Time:
middle ages, 17th century
Place:
korea, south korea, east asia, asia
Similarity:
100%
41K
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 162 min.
Story:
When a warlord dies, a peasant thief is called upon to impersonate him, in order to protect his clan from appearing weak and vulnerable. But he finds himself haunted by the warlord’s spirit as well as his own ambitions.
Style:
costume drama, cerebral, visually stunning, jidai geki, bleak ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
samurai, medieval, japanese history, battles, martial arts, warrior, warlord, doppelganger, death, emperor, samurai sword, feudal japan ...
Time:
16th century, medieval times, year 1980, 18th century
Place:
japan, east asia, asia, tokyo, india
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his ...
Style:
serious, stylized, sentimental, jidai geki, romantic ...
Plot:
samurai, martial arts, medieval, politics, feudal japan, caste system, asian history, love and romance, vengeance, family life, samurai sword, edo period ...
Time:
19th century, 1860s
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
A look at the relationship between a young blind samurai (Kimura) and his wife, who will make a sacrifice in order to defend her husband's honor.
Style:
psychological, serious, jidai geki, romantic, poignant ...
Plot:
blind character, samurai, medieval, hopes, social differences, asian history, blindness, vengeance, society, rivalry, political unrest, master warrior ...
Time:
year 2006
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
In 500 B.C., during Chinas famed 'Spring and Autumn Period', Kong Ze (Confucius), a commoner reverred for his outstanding wisdom, is made Minister of Law in the ancient Kingdom of Lu. Under his inspired leadership, Lu ascends to new ...
Style:
epic, contemplative, captivating, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
ancient history, philosopher, chinese history, politics, human nature, battles, wise man, historical figure, asian history, society, political unrest, state affairs ...
Time:
ancient times, 6th century
Place:
china, ancient china, asia
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 207 min.
Story:
The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ...
Style:
epic, bleak, harsh, atmospheric, serious ...
Plot:
samurai, vengeance, medieval, seppuku, brutality, justice, battles, martial arts, courage, redemption, society, righting the wronged ...
Time:
18th century, middle ages, medieval times, 19th century
Place:
japan, asia, tokyo
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
Charlton Heston stars as Renaissance artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), who begrudgingly paints the Sistine Chapel for imperious Pope Julius II in this epic adaptation of Irvine Stone's novel ...
Style:
inspirational, uplifting, serious, costume drama, biblical ...
Plot:
renaissance, painter, artist, biopic, gay subtext, painting, art, catholic, pope, male male relationship, art history, christian ...
Time:
16th century, ancient times, medieval times, 60s
Place:
italy, europe, rome italy
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
Two Jesuit priests encounter persecution when they travel to Japan in the 17th century to spread Christianity and search for their mentor.
Style:
existential, spiritual, serious, realistic, captivating ...
Plot:
tokugawa shogunate, samurai, christianity, samurai sword, nativity, edo period, mental disorder, catholic, time machine, spirit, religious persecution, danger ...
Time:
17th century, year 1971, middle ages
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan, UK
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
An tale of revenge, honor and disgrace, centering on a poverty-stricken samurai who discovers the fate of his ronin son-in-law, setting in motion a tense showdown of vengeance against the house of a feudal lord.
Style:
tense, serious, bleak, realistic, emotional ...
Plot:
samurai, feudal japan, medieval, revenge, hara kiri, vengeance, society, life is a bitch, loss of son, down on your luck, rivalry, samurai sword ...
Time:
middle ages, 17th century
Place:
japan, asia, seattle
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China, South Korea, Hong Kong
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
The aging Zhao embarks on his final and greatest campaign, a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.
Style:
exciting, realistic, atmospheric, serious, stylized ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
female warrior, medieval, war, battles, military, asian history, soldier, uninhibited rivalry, political unrest, rise to the top, state affairs, hopes ...
Time:
medieval times, ancient times
Place:
china, ancient china, east asia, asia
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Country: Germany, France, Austria, Spain
Duration: 155 min.
Story:
A wide-ranging, energetic period piece tracing the rise of the Protestant Henry of Navarre as he goes from battlefield warrior to France's beloved King Henri IV. Director Jo Baier's epic is a classically entertaining adventure, albeit one ...
Style:
tense, serious, captivating, psychological, twisted ...
Plot:
french history, medieval, renaissance, political unrest, politics, head of state, military, betrayal, battles, monarch, royalty, rivalry ...
Time:
16th century, middle ages, medieval times
Place:
france, europe
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France
Duration: 160 min.
Story:
A part of Joan of Arc's life. At the beginning, Jeanne (Joan) has already left Domremy, she is trying to convince a captain to escort her to the Dauphin. It ends during Jeanne's first battle, at Orleans. Meanwhile, Jeanne is depicted more ...
Style:
historical drama, captivating, realistic, serious, epic ...
Plot:
joan of arc, medieval, female warrior, saint, catholic, biopic, teenage girl, faith, catholic saint, female soldier, christianity, time machine ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, 15th century
Place:
france
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
On November 25th 1970, a man committed ritual suicide inside the Tokyo headquarters of the Japanese Ministry of Defence, leaving behind a legacy of masterpieces and a controversy that echoes to this day. The man was Yukio Mishima, one of ...
Style:
realistic, emotional, serious, exciting, captivating ...
Plot:
tragic hero, state affairs, political unrest, downfall, rebelliousness, writer's life, life is a bitch, idealism, heroes, writers, lgbtq, historical event ...
Time:
20th century, year 1970, 60s
Place:
japan
Similarity:
37%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Thailand
Duration: 163 min.
Story:
The film concerns the life of King Naresuan, who liberated the Siamese from the control of Burma. Born in 1555, he was taken to Burma as a child hostage; there he became acquainted with sword fighting and became a threat to the Burmese empire.
Style:
serious, epic, emotional, captivating, realistic ...
Plot:
young heroes, royal court, politics, friendship, rise to the top, heroes, rivalry, ambition, teaching the ways of the world, historical figure, state affairs, head of state ...
Time:
16th century
Place:
burma, seattle, thailand, asia
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
A biographical account of Mei Lanfang, China's greatest opera star.
Style:
serious, stylized, realistic, captivating, epic
Plot:
gender bending, warning, opera, ambition, tragic love, lifestyle, couples, love and romance, performer's life, society, music, unfulfillment ...
Place:
china, asia
Similarity:
37%
2K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
In a poor district of Edo lives a young samurai named Soza. He has been sent by his clan to avenge the death of his father. He isn't an accomplished swordsman however, and he prefers sharing the life of the residents, teaching the kids how to ...
Style:
serious, atmospheric, captivating, humorous
Plot:
samurai, medieval, revenge, dark humor, moral dilemma, rivalry, heroes, introspection, dealing with death, edo period, japanese history, samurai sword ...
Time:
18th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
The story of the Anabaptist movement and two of its first leaders, Michael and Margaretha Sattler.
Style:
biblical, independent film, contemplative, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
liberation theology, reformation, biopic, ancient, christian, medieval, faith, christianity, church, religions or cults, state affairs, heroes ...
Time:
16th century, ancient times
Place:
switzerland, europe, zurich switzerland
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Syria
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A daring, compelling and controversial take on the life of prince Abdulaziz Al Saud (Ibn Saud), founder of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Style:
realistic, serious, captivating, epic
Plot:
conquering, rebellion, against the odds, ruler, head of state, battles, rebelliousness, rise to the top, state affairs, battle zone, religions or cults, military ...
Time:
20th century, 1920s, 1930s
Place:
saudi arabia
Similarity:
36%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
During the warring period of the three kingdoms, ancient China is in turmoil. To unify the country, general Cao Cao (Jiang Wen), the real power behind the Emperor, enlists the aid of the greatest warrior in the land, Guan Yu (Donnie Yen). However, ...
Style:
stylized, emotional, exciting, action packed, realistic ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, medieval, battles, forbidden love, warlord, wuxia, rivalry, asian history, master warrior, love and romance, heroes, military ...
Place:
china, east asia, asia, ancient china
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
February 17 to March 3, 1860, inside Edo castle. A group of assassins wait by Sakurada Gate to kill the lord of the House of Ii, a powerful man in the Tokugawa government, which has ruled Japan for 300 years. They suspect a traitor in their midst, ...
Style:
captivating, realistic, serious, rough, gloomy ...
Plot:
samurai, ronin, medieval, samurai sword, asian history, martial arts, father, sword fight, badass, american civil war, politics, fight ...
Time:
19th century, turn of the century, 1860s
Place:
japan, tokyo, asia
Similarity:
36%
730
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 151 min.
Story:
The film depicts carnivalesque atmosphere summed up by the cry "Ee ja nai ka" ("Why not?") in Japan in 1867 and 1868 in the days leading to the Meiji Restoration. It examines the effects of the political and social upheaval of ...
Style:
serious, realistic, cynical, clever, witty ...
Plot:
edo period, samurai, sex, samurai sword, tokugawa shogunate, imperialism, satire, heroes, state affairs, society, dark humor, culture clash ...
Time:
19th century, 1860s, year 1981
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
36%
420
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Based on the medieval legend of Pope Joan, who was made Pope for a brief period around 855 A.D. The movie presents her existence as fact, though it is questionable that Pope Joan really did exist, and portrays her relationships with other notables ...
Style:
contemplative, captivating, serious, realistic, atmospheric ...
Plot:
pope, medieval, religion, catholic priest, catholicism, christian, viking, vatican, biopic, ancient, antiquity, feminism ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, ancient times, 9th century, year 1972
Place:
europe, rome italy
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
The struggles of an artist. Jang Seung-up (1843-1897), also called Owon, focusing on the years 1882 to 1897, when Korea was in political upheaval, caught between China and Japan, the conservative dynasty dying, and peasant revolt at hand. Jang, born ...
Style:
realistic, captivating, serious, sentimental, melancholic ...
Plot:
painter, politics, artist, biopic, art, nobility, painting, hopes, actor's life, ambition, human spirit, rise to the top ...
Time:
19th century, 1890s, 1870s, 1880s, 1860s ...
Place:
japan, asia, seoul, south korea, china ...
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 133 min.
Story:
16 years after the fateful "revenge of the Forty-seven Ronin," involving samurais from the Ako domain who avenged their leader and then commited seppuku (ritual suicide), the sole survivor of that incident, Kichiemon Terasaka (Koichi Sato) ...
Style:
tense, serious, realistic, captivating, exciting ...
Plot:
samurai, vengeance, injustice, haunted by the past, rivalry, society, danger, murder, ronin, edo period, dealer, estate ...
Time:
18th century
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
35%
Genre: Biography, History
Country: Spain, Italy
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
A portrait of the bloody dynasty that spawned a pope, Alexander VI, as well as the role model for Machiavelli's "The Prince," his son Cesare Borgia, and a legend of femme duplicity, daughter Lucrezia Borgia.
Style:
realistic, captivating, disturbing, historical drama, costume drama ...
Plot:
state affairs, leadership, society, medieval, dishonesty, betrayal, tudors, royal family, downfall, uninhibited rivalry, political unrest, ambition ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, 16th century
Place:
rome italy, italy
Similarity:
35%
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