Did you find the nameless Ronin's quest for meaning and purpose relatable? Granted, we may not carry swords, but one could argue that in the modern world there is a tremendous amount of atomization and a growing sense of purposelessness. Is the narrative of this film a commentary on life in the modern world?

We might say that each of the characters in Yojimbo represents a kind of modern archetype. The man with the gun is the modern man of technology. The old man is the sensible curmudgeon, able to perceive the present decline because he can still remember better days. Hansuke is the corrupt bureaucrat who is more concerned with his own standing than with what is right. The nameless Ronin is typical of the drifting modern, but he is also the ideal man: brave, forthright, virtuous, light-hearted. Perhaps these two sides of the Ronin (wandering / goodness) are related... To be good in the modern world must one also be adrift, or running askance of modern materialistic society? Can one participate and "get on" in society, and still lead a virtuous life?

As always, feel free to discuss anything else that's relevant (themes, cinematography, mis-en-scene, editing, sound design, etc.).