Amid the applause of the guests, the audience, and the film critics, as the lights in the screening room of the China Grand Theatre dimmed, "The Last Samurai" also began its premiere.

The big screen flashed the logos of Light and Shadow Company (USA) and Japan's Toho Co., Ltd., and in the sound of neat snare drums, the majestic Prussian military song sounded, and a team of German soldiers walking in goose steps walked into the Japanese barracks.

‘Die/Nacht/steht/chwarz/im/Dunkeln，

The night was still dark

rataplan/don/diri/don，

doch/uns‘re/Sterne/funkeln，

We're star-studded

rataplan/don/diri/don。

Feuer/weit/und/breit

The fire shines brightly

leuchten/übers/Feld，

Shine on the battlefield

und/die/M?nnlichkeit

Manhood

stirbt/nicht/in/der/Welt，

Never fade

unser/Herz/ist/fest/und/jung。

Our hearts are youthful and resilient

……

Fahnen/knattern/hell，

Banner of Light

wehen/in/dem/Wind，

Blowing in the wind

frisch/voran/Gesell，

Be active in the front

kommt/mit/uns/geschwind，

Follow us

es/gilt/die/neue/Zeit。

A new world is about to be born

Dieneue/Zeit/kommt/morgen，

Tomorrow is the dawn of a new era

……’

The story begins 150 years ago with the sound of military songs, when Captain Heinche von Simmons, a nobleman who had repeatedly fought in the Franco-Prussian War, and his colleagues were sent by the Prussian General Staff to the far east to train Japan's first modern firearms army for the Japanese emperor.

At this time, the Japanese government, which had just completed substantial reunification, was divided because of whether Japan was completely Westernized or Westernized on the premise of preserving traditional culture. After the defeat of the political struggle, Katsumoto Mori, a conservative leader who advocated the preservation of tradition, opposition to radicalism, and the preservation of Japan's true colors, resigned and left Tokyo, returning to his hometown to establish a private school.

In the tenth year of the Meiji era, the Samos clan, dissatisfied with the government, organized a rebel army composed of down-and-out samurai and bankrupt farmers to attack the government powder magazine in Kagoshima, kicking off the Southwest War. Mori Katsumoto sighed when he heard the news, but he still returned to Kagoshima to lead the nobles, and waved his army north in the name of 'questioning the government', and the momentum was like a bamboo ...... along the way.

Seeing the growing precariousness, the Meiji Emperor and his ministers decided to use this untrained army to completely eradicate the last remnants of the old shogun's power, the samurai clique, and lay the foundation for a new policy of more Westernization and the promotion of foreign trade. Despite repeated exhortations from the Prussian officer corps, both the Prime Minister and the Emperor were stubborn and ordered the new troops, who had not yet been trained, to immediately go to the front to quell the rebellion.

As foreseen by the officer corps, the two armies met in a thick fog, and the Japanese troops, without any battlefield experience, were frightened by the fierce rebels, and the entire army collapsed. Out of the pride of the nobility, Heincher von Simmons offered to lead part of the formation to be preserved to stop the pursuing rebels.

After a fierce battle, the small unit in charge of the attack failed, and the Prussian nobleman, Captain Heinche von Simmons, was mortally wounded and captured by the attendants of the rebel leader Mori Katsumoto. During the war, Heinche killed an important leader of the rebel army, and his subordinates wanted to kill the seriously injured Hachein out of hatred, but they were stopped by Mori Katsumoto, who adhered to tradition, on the grounds that 'knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent is the only way to win a hundred battles'.

Captain Heinche was then taken by the rebels back to their base camp, a small village hidden deep in the mountains of Saigo, and handed over to the wife of the battle-killed chief, Mori Katsumoto's sister Doriko.

Taking care of her husband's killer, although on the battlefield, Dolie and her children are still full of hatred for the dying Prussian officer. But Mori Katsumoto said to his sister and nephew: "Yamamoto-kun died on the battlefield, that is his fate and honor, and it is also the glory of the Yamamoto family." Although this white man killed Yamamoto, that is his duty and mission, and you should not have any hatred. ”

Under Doriko's careful care, Hachein finally picked up a life, but was surprised to find that he was not restricted in any way, and could even observe the training of the samurai and the war planning of the leaders.

Faced with incomprehensible treatment, in a quaint wooden house, Hachein met Katsumori Moto, the supreme leader of the samurai, and finally opened his mouth for the first time, asking in broken Japanese, "Why?" ”

The old-fashioned leader replied in fluent English, "You are a foreign warrior and deserve our respect." ”

"Samurai?"

Wearing a black kimono and clogs, Katsumori Moto, who was admiring the snow, nodded, looked at the white snow flying outside, and said leisurely, "If you can stick to your duties and beliefs with your life, you are a true samurai!" It's winter, and the snow has closed the roads, and when the snow melts in the spring, I'll send someone to take you out of here and back to Tokyo. ”

Captain Heinche, who was grateful, finally gave a Prussian military salute to an Oriental he looked down upon, "Thank you." ”

The arrogant Prussian officers adhered to aristocratic traditions, the old-fashioned Japanese samurai strictly adhered to rank, and the two sides did not understand each other's languages, and the bored Heinche began to take the initiative to chat with Katsumori Yuan, whom he considered to be equal.

From culture to art, from philosophy to military affairs, a rigid Prussian officer, an old-fashioned samurai leader, discuss, argue, argue, and quarrel in the idyllic village, while the guards outside the door are always respectfully tied.

Two completely different civilizations from the East and the West collided and blended in a secluded, picturesque village, and friendship was slowly born in this fierce collision.

As the two gradually got to know each other, Heinche von Simmons, who was waiting for the ice and snow to melt at the beginning of spring, finally became interested in Japanese culture. With Katsumorimoto's consent, Heinche began to learn kendo from Katsumorimoto, flower arrangement, tea ceremony, and even meditation from a monk from Dorika, who took care of his life.

Time passed, and Heinche, who originally looked down on the Eastern civilization, was surprised to find that when he tasted tea and meditated, he seemed to find a kind of peace that he had never experienced, that was a kind of quiet in the depths of his soul, as if his soul dissolved into the white silence in the distance. So he began to indulge in tea ceremonies, meditation and ......, which could make his mind peaceful.

By chance, Heinche learns that Dorizi, who takes care of her, is the wife of the leader she killed. Under the guidance of his heart, Heinche finally lowered the proud heads of the Prussian nobles, put on his military uniform and leather boots, bent down his straight waist full of guilt and gratitude, bowed to Dolika in a kimono and apologized and thanked, and the rain was like a poetic illusion.

"In the winter of 1876, it was either snowing or raining in Japan that season, and we bowed to each other in the rain. I killed her husband, and I was full of guilt.

I'm sorry I finally said those three words.

At that moment, she smiled and wept in her tolerant state.

Maybe time can really change a moment, and I no longer hate the samurai who killed my men, and she no longer hates me. ”

……

The days of calm and tranquility finally ended, and the government's encirclement and suppression began.

A scene that all the audience did not expect happened, Heinche, who had already cherished Mori Katsumoto, watched a tragic war. Dressed in a worn-out Prussian military uniform that had been sewn, shiny military boots, and holding his military cap in his hand, he stood upright on the hill by the edge of the battlefield, and watched with a solemn expression as the samurai and peasants rushed to the neatly lined army with their katanas, and then fell in a rain of shells.

"This is a war between tradition and modernity, a war of the Japanese themselves, and a war that has long been doomed. I'm just a bystander, and I can't do anything about it, and as Yuan said, this is their destiny as samurai - to defend their traditions and honor with their lives. And my mission is to stand here and witness this war between tradition and modernity. ”

When the slaughter-like war finally ended, the audience did not understand the scene again, the leader of the rebel army, Mori Katsumoto, was shot several times, but the katana was still stationed, and his former subordinates and colleagues took off their hats and bowed to him to apologize.

"Sen Yuanjun, do you need me to be the wrong person?"

Mori Katsumoto, who was already dying, shook his head and pointed at Captain Heinche, who was coming down from the hills.

"Hi"

The two sides who were still fighting bloodily just now helped the dying Mori Katsumoto half-kneel on the green grass, changed into a solemn black kimono, and put a short knife in a snow-white linen cloth in front of him, as if it were a religious ceremony. Then everyone, even the badly wounded soldiers, struggled to their knees and fell to their knees, and in front of them was a row of samurai who were ready to disembowel, like Mori Katsumoto.

Heinche, who had already walked to Mori's side, gave Mori Katsumoto a Prussian military salute, then bowed deeply, silently changed into the armor he had just taken off his friend's body, and finally picked up his friend's sword.

"The boy is determined to go out of the pass,

If you don't succeed, you won't return.

When the bones are buried, the cemetery,

There are mountains everywhere in the world. ”

Sen Shengyuan, who was already dying, suddenly had a little spirit, recited a poem from his hometown, picked up the short knife in front of him, and worshiped his former subordinates and colleagues who were lying on the ground and smiled: "Gentlemen, see you in the next life." ”

"Good go, adults!"

Mori Shengyuan sighed and said with a smile: "Mr. Heinche, please return my sword to His Majesty the Emperor." Sue him, I still insist until my death: to uphold tradition, to oppose radicalism, and to maintain my true Japanese nature. ”

"Hi", Scarface Heinche von Simmons in odd armor and bowed deeply like a Japanese samurai.

The mournful music sounded, and only Mori Katsumoto, who was kneeling on the ground, and Heinche behind him, and a short knife inserted into the lower abdomen. Mori Katsumoto, whose face was full of pain, held the short knife in his hand and used it again, and the Heinche long knife behind him swung hard, and then held the blood-dripping katana to the sky and roared in sorrow, and in the distance were kneeling on the ground, wearing a new military uniform, a black pressed soldier and officer.

As soon as the picture went black, it brightened again, and Heinche von Simmons, who had changed into a new military uniform, held Mori Katsumoto's saber in both hands, slowly walked to the elegant Japanese Imperial Palace, and walked out of the Imperial Palace empty-handed.

(voiceover) "Were you by his side when he died?" ”

"Yes."

"Then you sue me, how did he die?"

"No, Your Majesty, I'll tell you how he got alive."

The lonely sound of the ocarina sounded again, the wind was cold, and the mountains were yellow.

Heincher von Simmons leaned on the heights of the wind, leaving the audience with a bleak back, an indescribable loneliness.

……

The lights in the screening room came on, and the audience hesitated for a while before applauding, the film was beyond their expectations, and although a lot of the content was not quite understood, there was no doubt that it was definitely a great movie.