Movie and Cultural Review of the Last Samurai

Introduction

Beside Edward Zwick, no any other director is preoccupied with the intricacy of patriotism, driven to question the imperatives of an America that his protagonists both love and detest.” His movie “The Last Samurai” lies head-on into the realm of his previous bedeviled-hero movies, i.e. “Courage under Fire,” “The Siege” and “Glory.”

Cultural overview/heritage of main character/culture

The Last Samurai is a tale of a former soldier, Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a spirited American Calvary combatant burnt-out on pursuing Indians and wracked with guilt over a butcher ordered by his commanding soldier. After recruitment, he travels to Japan by one of his old friend, Sergeant Zebulon Gant with a mission of assisting the Japanese who then need western commanders to help modernize their army. Haunted by horrors he encountered in the US, Algren retreats into the bottle; however, the desire for quick cash, and avoid selling firearms, Algren decides to go east. He heads to Japan to help suppress an uprising of samurai led by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), an enigmatic Samurai warlord. Unfortunately, the rebel captures Algren, from where he becomes physically and spiritual healed. Katsumoto is fighting against selfish political interests Omura. Katsumoto wishes to preserve the Japanese culture, lifestyle, and moreso; he wants to protect it from the Meiji emperor’s oblivious move to civilize their country in the western sense (Frederic & Brussat, 2012).

Communication

Much of the film is communicated in Japanese; we witness Algren having difficulties in communicating with people since in this country no one speak English. The dialogue between him and Katsumoto, who knows how to speak English, are simultaneously hilarious and emotive. There is also some use of vulgar language; making the film unsuitable for small children. This language includes use of s-words and gentler swear-words and even God’s name abused several times (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012) .Family roles and Organization

In Samurai, it is the duty men of men to fight and protect the village while women are responsible for performing household duties as well as raising children. When Algren is captured by Katsumoto, he finds himself kept in Taka’s house, the wife of the warrior he had killed. Previously, Taka refuses to nurse Algren and even offers her life, but Katsumoto orders her to do what she is told. The Samurai are firmly organized patriarchy, whereby peasants obey their masters and embrace the warrior values. They also value dignity, harmony and beauty; that is why they resist Omura’s greedy, self-centered intentions to westernize Japanese culture. Taka is also left to raise her two small sons after her husband died in the battlefield (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012) .Workforce Issues

Algren and Gant are hired to train Japanese army about modern firepower. To their disbelieve, colonel Bagley and Ujio send the half-trained troops into the battlefield against Samurai. While fighting, the premature soldiers disintegrated under the fierce attack by the Samurai, and among the butchered include Sergeant Grant. Although, Algren kills several soldiers, he is seized and taken to Samurai by Katsumoto(SoundtrackUniverses, 2012) .

Bio-cultural Issues

As Algren is brought into the samurai village, the villagers become curious and suspicious on seeing the Whiteman, Algren (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

High Risk BehaviorsCigarettes and cigars make several appearances throughout the film. To erase the memories of atrocities that happened during the civil wars and on innocent Indians, Algren decides to abuse alcohol. He was commanded by a senior officer to slaughter children, women and other innocent Indians. He is even fired because he came on stage staggering and straying from his speech, moaning about the atrocities he committed on Indians and firing perilously with the Winchester. While healing from his wounds, he begs for alcohol to soothe his body and mind. He; however stops to abuse alcohol when regained his inner-peace and strength with the help of Samurai.

Nutrition

All day long, the peasants work in paddies, where they communally cultivate food for the samurai. The warriors spend their time playing with arrows, bows, and writing poems. At a time, the peasants are interrupt while working, so as to bow, sign of respect, whenever the Samurai pass nearby. One can conclude that the village is a pastarol paradise with traditional Japanese farming (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Pregnancy

While Algren lives with Taka, he develops a growing relationship with her and her family and eventually falls love with her. However, the pair is not seen making love; the play treats their growing affection with the decorum required by the Samurai culture. They briefly kiss, and a tender scene shows Taka romantically dressing Algren for battle. Away, at the emperor’s fortress there is a partially nude statue (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Death Rituals

The Samurai villagers believes in death as the only way to gain perfection. Anyone convicted of “dishonor” is sentenced to suicide death. The wife to a fallen soldier is comforted, rising her two small boys alone that her husband died a “good death.” In his last fight, Katsumoto prefers to commit hara-kiri rather than to be seized since surrendering is not an option to the Samarians. It is an expression of “dishonor” (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Spirituality

Honor is the most valuable component even more than life among the samurai warriors. The Bushido code of behavior and religious belief are clearly and loudly emphasized in Japanese military tradition. The subject about Karma, faith and destiny are seen, and there are pictures showing Japanese performing religious rituals. When Katsumoto commits hara-kiri, claims, with a dying breath, that he has achieved and experienced the perfection he wanted during his entire life. He claims the sword as his soul. The Japanese also the believes the emperor is a “living god.” Algren even confesses that, in his entire experience, in the battlefield, he had doubts with God, but he agrees that there exist something spiritual in Samurai village. Algren even commits himself to Buddhism and stops abusing alcohol. In other words, Algren finds solace in Buddhist religion as well as the Samurai codes; hence carrying himself in an honorable manner while on the battlefield (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Health Care Practices

Algren recovers from the throes of delirium tremens after he was captured by Katsumoto, thanks to the Hiroto family. Initially, Algren’s recuperation becomes problematical due to culture shock and alcohol abstainance (Frederic & Brussat, 2012).

Health Care Practitioners

While, in samurai village, there are scenes showing Algren’s wounds being stitched by a lady. Hence, it is true to conclude that women are responsible for treating wounded and sick warriors through traditional Japanese medicines (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

The mixture of small, sweet, wild and terrible deaths make this film appear interesting to many movie fanatics.

Reference

Frederic & Brussat, M. N. (2012). Spirituality and practice: Film review. Retrieved from http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=6832.

SoundtrackUniverses (Uploaded). (2012, October 24). [HQ] Hans Zimmer – The Last Samurai Soundtrack – OST – Special Edi. (Video File). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiAPPUdosg.