A young man answers the lure of adventure in Yoshinari Nishikori’s *Tatara Samurai*, departing his peaceful village to become a soldier. He quickly has doubts — but violence is unavoidable, whether he wants it or not, in a movie that occasionally mirrors its hero's uncertainty by playing with audience assumptions about samurai films. Those who enjoy the genre should respect this film, even if they don’t completely love it, and those interested in history will also find something to appreciate in this story set in 16th-century Japan. Gosuke (Sho Aoyagi) is from a family that produces steel. Their village, Tatara, is known for the quality of its steel, which is valued for swordmaking because it resists rust—a characteristic that will make it even more important as firearms become prevalent in warfare. As this shift begins and clans fight each other nearby, Gosuke realizes that common people have less obligation to their positions within feudal society than usual. "Now is a time when anyone can rise," one man observes. Joining Lord Oda's army is one route to becoming a samurai and gaining wealth and status. He says goodbye to his fiancée, disappoints his father, and leaves. Disoriented by his first experience with widespread carnage, Gosuke is advised to return home and "embrace your destiny" as a metalworker. His willingness to do so seems strange considering how eager he was to become a samurai, but this film often obscures characters’ reasons, particularly for Western viewers. That can be irritating at times, but it works well with Yohei (Masahiko Tsugawa), an older merchant who wants to persuade Tatara's mayor to sell him steel for making guns. Shortly after Gosuke returns, Yohei arrives with the news that Lord Oda plans to attack the town and take what he needs. He offers the town weapons, hired soldiers, and training in defense; though villagers debate accepting this kind of assistance, their decision is made when one of them fires a musket for the first time. If the film's initial portion didn’t follow the familiar hero's journey pattern, neither does this part become a story like *Seven Samurai* about outsiders helping peasants defend themselves. Something unsettling is happening, and fortunately, this means the dramatic responsibility no longer rests solely on Aoyagi, who acts well but struggles to convey his character’s internal conflicts. One of Gosuke’s friends, Shinpei (Naoki Kobayashi), has a vitality that he lacks, but the film doesn't fully utilize the actor when Shinpei becomes involved in events late in the story. Akira Sako’s cinematography showcases very beautiful scenery, reinforcing the script’s discussion of tradition and pride in craftsmanship. Although it isn't an action-packed movie, a few sword fights make good use of that exceptional Tatara steel.

Source on TMDB