Sword of Desperation (2010): cast, story & where to watch
2010 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 2010, Sword of Desperation is an action, thriller and romance film directed by Hideyuki Hirayama, running about 114 minutes.
What it’s about. A talented but troubled Edo Period swordsman, Kanemi Sanzaemon. Three years earlier, Kanemi killed a woman, Renko, the corrupt mistress of the powerful daimyo Tabu Ukyou. Unexpectedly, Kanemi received a lenient sentence for his crime and is allowed to return to his clan after only one year of imprisonment. Following his return, Kanemi is faced with the death of his wife, Mutsue. Thereafter, Kanemi lives with and cares for his wife's niece, Satoo, who has secret affections for Kanemi and expresses them by helping change his bleak outlook on life. Meanwhile, Kanemi's develops his unique "bird-catching" sword technique which he will soon put to test in battle for the first time against the fearsome swordsman, Hayatonosho Obiya.
Who’s in it. Sword of Desperation stars Etsushi Toyokawa as Kanemi Sanzaemon, Chizuru Ikewaki as Rio, Koji Kikkawa as Obiya and Tsumami Edamame as Fukui, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Sword of Desperation has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Midnight Pulp and Cineverse Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sword of Desperation page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sword of Desperation tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Sword of Desperation (2010)?
- In US, Sword of Desperation is available to stream on Midnight Pulp and Cineverse Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Sword of Desperation worth watching?
- Sword of Desperation holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Sword of Desperation?
- Sword of Desperation stars Etsushi Toyokawa, Chizuru Ikewaki, Koji Kikkawa, Tsumami Edamame and Tenkyû Fukuda.
- When was Sword of Desperation released?
- Sword of Desperation was released in 2010, with a runtime of about 114 minutes.