In 16th century Japan, a young man has to choose between becoming a master steel maker like his father and grandfather before him, or becoming a samurai so that he can help protect his village from attacks by the various clans which want the high-quality steel made there.
Cinematography
Stunning Tatara furnace sequences shot like sacred ritual.
Practical Effects
Authentic steel-forging process, no CGI fire here.
Acting
Naoki Kobayashi's stoic restraint carries the film's weight.
Director
Yoshinari Nishikôri
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Tatara furnace method shown was almost lost to history; the film used one of Japan's last surviving masters as consultant.
Nishikôri deliberately subverts chanbara conventions—this is a 'samurai film' where becoming samurai is framed as moral failure.
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