Plot: Two women try to survive in deserted land of feudal Japan. One is waiting for her husband, who went to fight in war, the second is her mother of law. They survive because of their killer instinct, Which they use for killing deserters or samurai to steal their armor, clothes, weapons trade on account of these things for food. Their daily routine would disrupt the coming man, who will change everything.

Where men beat, women win. Feminists and other categories of audience can appreciate the movie. Find mother in law, who is not imperious is priceless and improves the life. Find overbearing mother in law can life considerably shorten. Director offers from the beginning an exciting atmosphere and restlessness, with crow as a symbol of death.

We have not seen any lofty ideals of Japanese culture, but just plain struggle for survival on the verge of financial collapse in the deep bowels of poverty in administration of poor existences who are only capable of killing from the back due to their own survival. Dialogues are the most economical, they are very not necessary for commenting on the situation, because the movie tells us the story by the images speaking for themselves.

Frightening incorporated music tones is incorporated to scenes of death, which highlights the seen. The story is occasionally interrupted by the easy lyrical scenes that story move not anywhere, just show the emotions of the characters. Acting all involved are very satisfactory. Kei Sato performed already good performance in Seppuku. Here, his character differs from the previous in that that he lacks any elegance and thinks only on his primary needs.

Conclusion: 8/10. Special film that combines an interesting cultural elements, giving emphasis to basic human instincts, skillfully using its simple environment to create an atmosphere of fear and each character and the actor gets the maximum, but the audience can be tired sometimes of his routine. Significant experience in which I missed even more tension and otherness.