Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai

Set during the 19th-century social upheaval that helped bring three centuries of shogunate rule to its knees, The Last Samurai follows Toranosuke (a physically and dramatically impressive Takahashi, former star of Seijun Suzuki's Fighting Elegy and Tattooed Life), a paragon of the valiant samurai who is confused by the changes happening around him. His codes tell him to defend the shogunate on the side of the Shinsengumi militia, but his teacher (Tamura of Yasuzo Masumura's Hoodlum Soldier series) has already defected to the other side and tells him it's time to lay down the sword and look toward the future. When the latter stealthily arranges for Toranosuke to meet the beautiful Reiko (Matsuzaka), the warrior's doubt begin to grow.

One of the greatest talents of the great talent, vocalist Betty Carter, was her ability to sing in different voice personalities. She could purr the purest ballad, scat the fastest bop run, and dig the deepest in the blue notes. Carter's legacy has been wanting for a new talent to bestow its mantle…and that talent is Tiffany Austin. Add to this talent the vision for selecting an integrating theme to the repertoire and Unbroken, the sophomore release after 2015's Nothing but Soul (Con Alma Music) emerges as a fully formed masterpiece. The integrating theme here is the celebration of the robust spirit of African-American Culture and with the spirit of Betty Carter flowing through this recital, Austin draws a line in the sand…a deep one.

One of the most beloved movie epics of all time, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits. This three-hour ride—featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura—seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.

"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is the timeless 1972 classic by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It features breathtaking collaborations, steeped in tradition while pioneering a new form of Americana. This triple-Platinum album features an array of accomplished country songwriters and musicians including Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin and many others. It showcases thrilling compositions by luminaries including Scruggs, Acuff, Travis, Martin, Hank Williams, Joni Mitchell and more. Will the Circle Be Unbroken united fans of country and rock music, reaching #4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. In 2005, the album was selected for the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. This edition was remastered from the original analogue tapes in 2012 to celebrate the album's 40th anniversary.

The life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the second world war. Only to be captured by the Japanese navy after a plane crash in the Pacific. During his capture, Louie must continue his fight by surviving through the war. The film opens showing Louis "Louie" Zamperini flying as a bombardier of a United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator bomber, during an April 1943 bombing mission against the Japanese-held island of Nauru. The plane is badly damaged in combat, with a number of the crew injured.

A veteran samurai, who has fallen on hard times, answers a village's request for protection from bandits. He gathers 6 other samurai to help him, and they teach the townspeople how to defend themselves, and they supply the samurai with three small meals a day. The film culminates in a giant battle when 40 bandits attack the village.