Hana (Hana Yori Mo Naho: The Tale of a Reluctant Samurai) (2005)

Hana: The Tale of a Reluctant Samurai is a pleasant romp through post-feudal Japanese societal changes as seen through the characters who live in a poor rowhouse community in Edo. It's chock full of visual and verbal humor (provided you can watch the characters interact and read subtitles fairly rapidly). Hana (the word refers to an elegant but short-lived Japanese flower) could be described as Seven Samurai meets Amelie. Soza has been sworn to avenge his samurai father's death, however, samurai practices have just been abolished by the government. Moreover, he's a gentle soul and his fighting skills are pathetic. So while waiting (three years and counting) for his revenge ship to come in (and even after it docks all but next door), Soza opens up a school to teach the townsfolk and their children how to write. Even so, the plot and its development are just a frame for the window dressing that is the movie's characters and their interaction. Simply put, Hana is a delight to watch. I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars. (9-29-10 posted 11-3-10)