I saw this movie when I was very young and prior to having any interest in Japan or Samurai. I do not remember the name of the movie but I recall that it took place just after Japan had surrendered from World War II.
Anyway the movie is about a US reconnaissance officer undercover on some island occupied by Japanese forces.
If I remember correctly the Japanese forces have to withdrawl from the island but their commander is so ashamed of Japans surrender he refuses to leave and decides live out the rest of his life on the island as a hermit.
I believe the commander was also requistioned to turn in his sword which he refused to do. (The Japan military stopped issuing swords to their military after the surrender and removed them from the army.)
Anyway throughout the movie this US recon guy and Japanese Commander become aware of eachother on this island. The Japanese commander proceeds to hunt down the recon officer and capture him, but instead of killing him he takes him out onto the beach and begins to beat him with a makeshift bamboo sword.
The Recon guy suffers a lot of these beatings on the beach during his time as prisoner but one day the Japanese officer brings 2 bamboo makeshift swords.
He begins to teach the marine or whoever he was basic strikes and blocks and over the course of weeks leading to months the Recon guy becomes a proficient swordsmen as the two train and duel together everyday on the beach, with the commander winning each battle.
At the end of the movie the Japanese commander comes onto the beach carrying two real swords and indicates they are going to fight for real this time. Their is sort of a love hate relationship between these two and the marine doesn't really see any sense in killing one or the other, especially since throughout the movie they cannot even communicate with eachother. But I think that the Japanese commander says something about fighting his last battle as a Samurai and I believe intended to train this marine until he was actually a better swordsmen than himself so the marine would kill him in the end and at least saving his honor since the surrender of Japan had taken it away.
Needless to say there was a lengthy duel and the American although severely wounded did manage to strike a killing blow on the commander and I think as the commander lay dying on the beach he offered the American his sword and gave him thanks for allowing him do die with honor and face.
Then yadda yadda yadda, I forget what happens after that. Although I do remember at one point in the movie the Japanese commander took a nun as a prisoner and used his sword to cut strips from her clothes (while she was in them) to bandage an injury. I think at the end she and the marine ran off together.
Anway does anyone know the name of this movie? It was low budget and looked to have been made in the early eighties.
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