12時間ドラマ10周年を飾る作品。激動の幕末にあって鎖国日本の開国に挑戦し、その生命を捧げた大老井伊直弼の波乱の物語。全6部構成。「歴史ドラマとしての迫力満点」(朝日新聞への投書)。途中各部の間でミニ番組が入る。
In all likelihood, a one-off revival of Wakayama's 11 film GOKUDO (SCOUNDREL) series, which originally finish in 1974.
It is hard to think of another ninky yakuza film that leaves the main protagonist - a chivalrous female at that - in so much pain and sorrow, such an emotional abyss of desolation at the climax. Yamashita and writer have fashioned a bleak, haunting, exciting and beautiful film.