Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)

Having earned his new name, Musashi Miyamoto travels lonely roads in his continued search for knowledge and self-improvement. He hopes that by meeting and overcoming challenges of both a physical and spiritual nature he'll be able to increase his connection to the divine as well as his fighting skills, but without proper instruction he doesn't get the balance quite right.
A second master swordsman joins the arena. He’s someone who could easily carry a film all by himself even though he mostly features in the stories of Musashi, like he does here. Some of you will already know who I mean.
Elsewhere, Akemi and her mother are still stirring trouble for everyone.
Otsu keeps her eyes on the road, and her heart tethered to an ideal.

3½ placards of intent out of 5