Review of Seven Samurai

Widely regarded as a masterpiece, I went into this movie with high expectations, all of which were exceeded. Kurosawa tells the story of a group of unemployed samurai who are enlisted to defend a poor farming village in the mountains from being raided by returning bandits. But there is a catch—the samurai must work for free. Most villagers do not expect them to find anyone willing to help, but the determination of one of them catches the attention of Kambei Shimada (Takashi Shimura, also wonderful in Kurosawa’s Ikiru), a noble and big-hearted ronin with impressive skills. With his help they assemble six more warriors, each with their own distinct personality, to help prepare the village for defense. The film gives great insight on the traditions of ancient Japan, meditations on morality, and the nature of war and death. When the end of the film comes up, you are so connected with the many characters that you can’t help but relate to the somberness of Kambei—when is the safety of a village worth more than the life of one close friend? A very powerful film, worth watching for Toshiro Mifune’s performance alone.