Praised by Japanese film critics and much admired by his contemporaries Akira Kurosawa and Yasujirô Ozu, Tomu Uchida nonetheless remains a little-known in the west. His 1955 masterpiece * Spear at Mount Fuji is an excellent entry point for the newcomer.

Set during the Edo period, * Spear at Mount Fuji is a tragicomic road movie of sorts, following a samurai, his two servants including spear-carrier Genpachi (Chiezô Kataoka) and the various people they meet on their journey, including a policeman in pursuit of a thief, a young child and a woman who is to be sold into prostitution.

Winner of a prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for supporting actor and Kurosawa regular Daisuke Katô, * Spear at Mount Fuji is a film deserving of much wider international recognition.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

* High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
* Original uncompressed mono audio
* Optional newly translated English subtitles
* Brand-new audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, recorded exclusively for this release
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Corey Brickley
* FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic and filmmaker James Oliver