The masterful cinematography and lucid fight scenes are so hypnotizing that they can almost distract from the philosophical ideas such as vengeance, destiny, parenthood, and love. Some of these are represented ambiguously.

For example, there comes a time in the film when an infant, is forced to choose between a sword or a ball. Perhaps the sword represents a life of striving and desire, like the samouris desire for revenge. However, from the Buddhist perspective desire is the root of all suffering. For the attainment of enlightenment desire must be given up, something the lone samurai cannot do. And, doesn’t even wish on his kid for when the child chooses the sword he says “You would have been happier the other way.” Perhaps the ball doesn't represent enlightenment but just a life of leisure. Something akin to Dick from A Talented Mr. Ripley. One filled with happiness but not purpose. The sword is motivation. But the samouris motivation is vengence. Focusing on such a negative state of mind eventually becomes your destiny. Again the ball is associated with positivity. How do you want to spend your life?

The rape scene in this film- when Itto Ogami saves the prosititutes life is one of the most interesting scenes in the movie. The scene touches on laying one’s pride down in the extreme event to save another life- even one as ‘low down’ as a cheap prostitute. And this is exaggerated as Ogami is clearly a man of principle and a samurai- a high end of society perhaps- whereas the thieving whore is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Notably, the whore is still different than the gang of criminals occupying the town- the criminals deserve to die- as they all do later in the film. The whore on the contrary shows her humanism when she stands up for Ogami’s kid- perhaps this is why Ogami later ‘saves’ her. There are almost parallelisms to religious concepts here such as in Christianity where Jesus lays down his life to save sinning humans. In my head, Ogami saves the girls life here in perhaps the most badass way possible. Truly admirable. Nevertheless, despite the whore trying to leave with Ogami, this is one of the seemingly few films where the hero does not accept- or get- the heroin at the end of the film

There are a multitude of scenarios like this in the film. Some offer an insight into Japanese culture, some into ourselves. Regardless after watching this, you will find yourself thinking and that is how you know it is a great film.