*spoilers* this movie and its 4 sequels are about yakuzas(Japanese mob)in Hiroshima after WWII and beyond. the film begins with the main character Shozo Hirono being pulled into a yakuza battle and being sent to jail. when he gets out, a crime boss enlists him as an under boss. The traditional yakuza structure involves complete devotion to your direct superior,and also your superior respecting you, something that everyone except shozo seems to try to disregard. shozo stays loyal to his treacherous and undeserving boss much longer than most others did, but leaves at the end of the film when most of the other under bosses who he had known for years were dead. this movie is extremely violent and seems to portray yakuza life very honestly. the complex web of characters is hard to follow, but scenes usually depict something important to the story of the crime family overall, and there is a still shot with a caption whenever someone important dies.
