Edo Period, Japan. Following the collapse of his clan, Hanshirō, an unemployed samurai arrives at the manor of Lord Iyi. With no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in this ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect. Masaki Kobayashi’s masterpiece is a scathing critique of the samurai code and feudal rigidity, and a fierce evocation of individual agency in the face of a corrupt and hypocritical system. Winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s Special Jury Prize. In memory of Tatsuya Nakadai, in an outstanding performance.