I understand the second meaning of the title, but I can't seem to get the first. The narrator, Seibei's daughter says it's an insult, but why? I've asked some Japanese friends, but they haven't been able to come up with anything.
Does someone else know?
It's more of a joke instead of an insult. Because Seibei always goes right home after work (as in when it's getting dark) instead of going drinking with his coworkers. They view him as boring and not sociable and thus they call him Twilight. However Seibei's loved ones would view it as an insult. Because he is being made fun of.
Did you ever notice that people who believe in creationism look realy un-evolved? - Bill Hicks
I suppose Seibei is named "twilight" because after work he has to return home before sunset, in order to take care of his daughters and mother. Instead, after work, his colleagues go drinking and enjoyning women, so they appeal him, laughing, "twilight Seibei". He's seen as a boring man, who don't like fun like "real man" should and runs kome.
shareLMAO!! But come on!...did anyone laugh near the end of the movie when his coworkers kept quiet n din't call him twilight at all because they found out he was one mean butt-kickin, stick wielding, samurai!.....lol they gave him more respect then Takeshi Kitano's character at the workplace....that was probably my nice bit of the film...not the best ...but nice...hehehehe stupid coworkers
shareI thought it was Twilight because he was on the tail-end of his life as a samurai. It would sort of be like "Old Man Seibei" in English.
shareI don't think it could be said that Seibei is in the twilight of his life. Hiroyuki Sanada was only 42 when he made the film, and I don't remember anything suggesting that the character was older. In fact, Seibei has two young children and so may possibly be intended to be younger than that, so I would accept the explanations already given for the personal use of Twilight.
However, the film is set at the twilight of the age of the Samurai way of life. It is the period of the Meiji restoration, and the transformation of Japan from feudalism to a modern society. I feel that this can be seen as a secondary meaning of the title.
Excellent film. Better than When the last Sword is Drawn, and (if I need to say it) MUCH better than that film with Tom Cruise.
Rob
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Do you have to be abusive yourself, Kawada? His workmates weren't 'a bunch of jerks', they were perfectly pleasant, they were just sorry that he wouldn't come and socialise with them. They kept asking him, in a friendly fashion, and they knew about his home circumstances and why he couldn't come. And the boss was very good to him when he took him to the chief retainer to receive what could have been his death sentence.
Sorry to quibble, but this is a film full of kindness and gentleness, despite its violent setting, it's a shame to put it on a level with some mindless chanbara.