10 Greatest Samurai Films Of The 21st Century

The first entry on the list from Samurai film visionary Yoji Yamada, The Hidden Blade is the second in a trilogy of films that demonstrated the changing landscape of 1800s Japan. The director has been a leading creator in the modern film scene, delivering high authenticity and earning high respect from his peers.

The Hidden Blade is a more personal tale than most, following two Samurai Munezo Katagiri (Masatoshi Nagase) and Samon Shimada (Hidetaka Yoshioka) come to terms with the end of their way of life. As such, it's far more character driven and less focused on action. Katagiri forms a bond with local house servant Kie. The issue of social status is a key theme throughout, showing how it influences communities across the nation.

The film's narrative never leaves the perspective of its two main leads as they journey across Japan, finding themselves in service to several individuals and are pressed into learning the techniques of western weaponry. The theme of change plays into the film's tone, speaking to the Samurai slowly ebbing away with the onset of modern industrialisation.

The film went on to win several awards in Japan, including best art direction and best actress.