"Ame Agaru" was Akira Kurosawa's last screenplay, posthumously realized by Takashi Koizumi, his disciple.

The plot takes place in a period of transition in the history of Japan in the 18th century, where the country moves from the luxury of the Genroku Era (1688-1703) to the simplicity of the Kyoho Era (1716-1735).

Misawa, a ronin, and his wife are trapped in a simple inn because of the rains causing the river level rise, preventing them from continuing their journey. Surrounded by poor and nervous people also isolated because of the rain, the ronin goes for a walk and comes back with lots of food, which is turned into a great feast for those trapped in the inn. The wife suspects that Misawa fought for money at a club, an act that is incompatible with the samurai code.

In addition to quickly winning the sympathy and gratitude of the poor people in that area, the generous Misawa also draws the attention of the local feudal lord, who invited him to be the castle's swordsman. This ended up causing caused enormous envy among some of the locals.

If you have no idea about what to watch this weekend, Ame Agaru presents us with a deep focus on the characters and their lives, as all Akira Kurosawa's work. The particularity that makes this film very special is the fact that it portrays how difficult the Misawa’s life was and yet he had to do the right thing.

There’s also a nice Bokken fighting scene that you can check here: