The kind of film that Hollywood lack. In other words, focused on what it supposed to show without pushing any modern liberal ideologies that are Irrelevant with this film. Also the actors gave a very pleasing performance.

In the times of the civil war in the late nineteenth century a man called Seibei Iguchi (Hiroyuki Sanada) was just a man who wanted to live his quiet life with his two daughters. Yet trouble always seemed to find him in small corners around his village. Paired with the name Unlucky man he was usually ridiculed by those who he worked with in the accounting departments of the villages warehouse.In the midst of this a childhood friend Tomoe'(Rie Miyazawa) comes into his life unexpectedly because of the abusive family life she has with her present husband. Seeing as Seibei was her friend his attitude was that because of his poor life she would abandon the family in order not to lose face in front of her own family. But as with all lovers in this world she does not see it that way.Other than his dreams slowly coming true he is given an assignment by the clan lord to take out a mad man who has lost his reasoning. Armed with a short sword for which he mastered... Seibei must take his life so that his own would be led in comfort. However doing so could put his own life in jeopardy. In time his achievements would give his family the needed boost, which in turn gave his daughters more freedom. Except during the civil wars for which America intervened with weapons (guns) gave the samurai more deadly force on the field. Because of this new change the samurai code was slowly losing its potency on the battlefield as a one sided victory.I found this to a good story with all the trimmings of hardship, caring, friends, destitution (Sometimes seeing the effects of Diseases) which would either grant one in the past more life... or snuff it out with a quick flick of a swords edge. The daily life of a samurai was not the easiest way to live to say the least. They had endured more suffering because of cold calculating warriors such as the shoguns. The common man couldn't escape it. Neither could the gentle wives when their husbands went out on call. Waiting for them to return was more abrasive, and mind toiling than any other torture. But the code still lives on in the hearts and minds of the surviving family members today. A glorious time then, and also dark to some degree. This is why japan has endured for so long with the idea that hard work is the key to happiness. Some find the easy road, and others find the hard road. Either way... every single person born then to now has the same view. Live hard, work hard, play hard. The acting was great for everyone who starred, and the music was excellent. The scenes I particularly liked with the small house they all lived in. Cozy, warm, full of life. Memories. And the landscapes of the rivers, villages, and bridges of the province. Authentic, and rustic. I give it all ten stars for the story, the people, and the history lesson along with the narrative from one of the most prominent actors in Tokyo... Keiko Kishi.

The Twilight Samurai was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 76th Academy Awards, Japan's first in twenty two years. The Twilight Samurai also won an unprecedented 12 Japanese Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. The director shows another approach from ex-history movie. The castle, inside the walls of the castle and a dense beard are very real. Especially, at the night scene, there are more appropriate lightness more than usual unprofitable and unnecessary a street lamp that had not exist at the time. The good darkness in a room where samurai are fighting makes reality by mixing their dynamism. At the start of the film, the main character, Iguchi Seibei, becomes a widower when his wife succumbs to tuberculosis. His wife receives a grand funeral, more than what a low-ranking samurai such as Seibei could afford. He works in the grain warehouse, accounting for stores inventory for the samurai clan. His samurai colleagues mock him behind his back with the nickname Tasogare that means Twilight in English. Because, when evening approaches, he rushes home to look after his senile elderly mother and two young daughters, Kayano and Ito, instead of bonding with his supervisor and other samurai colleagues over customary nights of dinner, geisha entertainment, and sake drinking. Even though he is a samurai, he continues to neglect his own appearance, failing to bathe and being shabbily dressed. The well-being of his young daughters and medicine for his mother take priority over new clothes or the monthly bath fee. I like his manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes. I think he is really the samurai.

Iguchi's wife dies from tb and he must take care of his senile mother and two young daughters while working a low paying job at a warehouse. He is so poor that he wears old clothes, can't afford the bath fee, and so and his fellow samurai make fun of his body odor.Tomoe, an old friend who has divorced an abusive, alcoholic man, Koda, and becomes close to Iguchi and his daughters. He wishes to marry her but feels he is not worthy because of his poverty. Iguchi is ordered to kill a disgraced samurai, Yogo, who refuses to leave and commit suicide. He has already defeated the first guy sent to assassinate him. Iguchi picks up his short sword to battle Yogo. If he succeeds, he gets more pay and a higher social ranking. He hopes to impress Tomoe enough to marry him, even though she is engaged to another man. Iguchi arrives at Yogo's house and finds him sitting in the dark. They discuss family problems and eventually fight with swords. The ending is a bit cliché, but the cinematography is spectacular, as is the acting, making The Twilight Samurai an excellent movie.