Report on Movie The Last Samurai Directed by Edward Zwick

The Last Samurai
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The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai is a movie that is directed by Edward Zwick and it touches on the spiritual transformations that are experienced by an American warrior when he spends most of his time in a Japanese village. The manner in which this warrior transforms his character mirrors the deep Taoism beliefs that are characteristic of people in this part of the world. From just being an ordinary American warrior, the Samurai adopts the culture of discipline, respect and communal camaraderie that are the hallmarks of the Tao religion. Although the transformation takes a while to take root, The Last Samurai becomes an epitome of the Tao religion.
The representation of Tao beliefs and values in The Last Samurai can be seen through the life and struggles of the main character. One of the core beliefs of Taoists is their desire to be virtuous. Ideally, the Tao religion is founded on its defense of honor. People belonging to this religion are supposed to be honorable people. Taoism is mostly focused on helping people to find and establish their purpose and life and each day people in this religion are supposed to come up with means that connect them to their higher reason for existence.
The entire film is about Bushido, the Tao word for the willingness to die in an attempt to attain a higher life and perfection. In this film, the Samurai is determined to lose his life in an attempt to find meaning for his life. Having been raised as an American, the protagonist in this movie finds himself at a state where his beliefs are in contrast with his new found way of life. Whereas the American way of life would have advocated for each person to live their own life, the new warrior is confronted with the Tao way of life, where one has to gi...