Quentin Tarantino is very knowledgeable about movies. In the case of Kill Bill, he was so inspired by a Japanese film that the similarities are more than just striking.
Which film is it about? It is about the Japanese film Lady Snowblood. It was released in 1973 and told the story of a vengeful woman. Her name is Yuki, and she wants to avenge her family’s death. Her mother, who went to prison after a murder, gave birth to Yuki there, so that she can later complete the quest for revenge.
Lady Snowblood is a prime example of the revenge film and does not hold back on bloody scenes. Yuki moves elegantly through the fights and usually takes down her opponents with short katanas, Japanese swords.
The film is relatively unknown in this country; only genre fans may have seen or heard of it. When watching Lady Snowblood, striking similarities to another revenge film become apparent: Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino.
Tarantino shows that he loves movies
How was Tarantino inspired? The director, who loves movies more than series, is known for incorporating quotes and references to other works into his own creations. He is very knowledgeable about film history and shows this in his 9 released films to date.
In the case of Kill Bill, the similarities to Lady Snowblood run throughout the entire film. This begins with the basic plot. A woman loses her family or part of it – in Kill Bill, it is the bride’s baby, right at the beginning.
The woman then seeks revenge on the murderers. In both films, it involves a deadly team of four killers who are gradually tracked down and meet their end. Fights in Kill Bill are also conducted with katanas.
Not only did Tarantino take over the plot for telling his story, but how it is told also follows the great inspiration. There are different chapters, and the story is not told strictly linearly – a stylistic device that Tarantino also likes to employ in other films.
Some scenes and shots were almost taken 1:1 by the director. This is particularly noticeable in one scene, namely when the killers lean over their victim. You can find a comparison of similar shots on YouTube.
Are there further parallels? Tarantino probably also liked the leading actress of Lady Snowblood. Protagonist Yuki was played by the actress and singer Meiko Kaji. The song sung by her, “The Flower of Carnage”, appears not only in Lady Snowblood. It also accompanies a dramatic scene in Kill Bill, which ends bloodily.
Despite the similarities, it is worth watching both films. One is a true Japanese revenge film, while the other is the western interpretation of a great film fan. Did you already know about the inspiration for Kill Bill? Feel free to write it in the comments. A well-known actress, by the way, was not allowed to participate in the film: Quentin Tarantino revered an actress, didn’t let her star in Kill Bill because she was too good
