Yakuza Princess

Yakuza Princess is a 2021 Brazilian action thriller film directed by Vicente Amorim, with an screenplay by Amorim, Fernando Toste, Kimi Lee and Tubaldini Shelling, based on the graphic novel Samurai Shiro by Danilo Beyruth. The film stars Masumi, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Eijiro Ozaki, and Kenny Leu.

Synopsis

The head of a notorious yakuza syndicate is killed in Japan and his only heir is sent to Brazil as a baby. Twenty years later, living in São Paulo, Akemi discovers that she has inherited half of the yakuza clan and that the other half wants her dead. Takeshi, a mobster loyal to the late boss, comes to Brazil to protect her. At the same time, an amnesiac foreigner wakes up in a hospital and crosses her path. Akemi will start a war and chart her own destiny.

Cast

Masumi as Akemi
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Shiro
Tsuyoshi Ihara as Takeshi
Eijiro Ozaki as Kojiro
Kenny Leu as The Taxi Driver
Mariko Takai as Mrs. Tsugahara
Charles Paraventi as Armond
Toshiji Takeshima as Chiba
Lucas Oranmian as Perito

Production

In October 2019, it was announced that the singer Masumi will make her big screen debut opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the action film that completed filming in Brazil. On February 10, 2021, it was reported that XYZ Films would sell worldwide rights save Latin America, in the European Film Market, in early March. On April 6, 2021 it was announced that Magnet Releasing has acquired the U.S distribution rights.

Reception

Critical response

According to critic aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a critic score of 33% based on 42 review and an audience of 36% based on 50+ reviews with the critics consensus reading; "visually stylish but a narrative non-starter, Yakuza Princess serves as an unhappy reminder that action is rarely a substitute for an interesting story".