Heaven and Earth (1990 film)

Japan, the middle of the XVI century. In the province of Etigo (currently Niigata Prefecture ), owned by the Uesugi clan, there is a civil war. The young samurai of Nagao Kagetora asks the gods for the talent of a commander in exchange for a vow of celibacy and, with the support of the people, challenges his cruel elder brother. After several bloody battles, Kagetora becomes the new ruler of Etigo.

Meanwhile, the powerful daimyo Takeda Shingen , driven by the desire to conquer all of Japan, invaded Shinano province to use it as a springboard to conquer Etigo. Takeda has already earned the glory of the great commander, and his army is the strongest in the country. In addition, the clan province of Takeda is rich in gold and he does not disdain to bribe other people's vassals.

Kagetora decides to stop Takeda, but several Kagetora samurai, bribed by Takeda, rebelled. Kagetora abandons previous plans and goes on a punitive expedition against traitors. During the siege of one of the rebellious castles, Kagetora is forced to kill his wife and young son, the betraying samurai. Having seized the castle, he could not forgive the blood of the innocent, and having dressed in a tramp left his possessions.

Three loyal warlords go after Kagetora to persuade him to return. They caught up with Kagetora, but it was at that moment that Takeda passed with their beloved female warrior Yaya and a retinue of several samurai. Takeda did not recognize his enemies under the clothes of tramps, but suddenly snow fell on Yai's horse, and it swept towards Kagetora. Kagetora was stopped by a horse, but one of Takeda's bodyguards rode closer and struck. One of the commanders took a hit on himself and died. Takeda threw a bag of gold at Kagetore and drove on. After that, Kagetora vowed to destroy Takeda.

Returning to Etigo, Kagetora gathered his troops and moved to Shinano. Takeda took up defense in the Kawanakajima Valley. The army was divided by a river. Kagetora ordered the construction of a floating bridge and sent cavalry to attack, but the attack was repelled. At night, Takeda burned a floating bridge. The armies stood opposite each other, on different banks of the river, for several months. Yai with a detachment of cavalry rode out to the riverbank and called Kagetoru to battle. Kagetora took the musket and shot Yai. Takeda stepped back.

Before the Kagetor could celebrate the victory, he was informed that his mentor had taken the side of Takeda. Kagetora returned to Etigo to punish the traitor. In a one-on-one battle, Kagetora killed the rebel, after which he again moved to Shinano to fight Takeda.

Both armies maneuvered in the mountains for several months, until Takeda again took up defenses in the Kawanakajima Valley. Under cover of darkness and fog, Kagetora crossed the river and unexpectedly attacked Takeda. After a bloody battle, Takeda, having lost several military leaders, began to retreat.

Kagetora at the head of the cavalry rushed in pursuit and overtook Takeda near a shallow river. Both commanders converged in a one-on-one battle. Kagetora wounded Takeda in the shoulder, after which the latter fell off his horse, but the samurai, who had arrived in time to help, saved him from death. Kagetora retreated.