It is the early 1950s and Japanese Cinema is reaching international acclaim. Nanshu, a poor man with a big heart, is struggling to break into the booming film business, but the only thing keeping him from success is his desire to be the best. After numerous failed attempts, he gets the chance of a lifetime. During an encounter with Japan most ambitious film director, he lands a lead role as one of the eight samurai that will save a village from group of bandits in a new epic film about to go into production. For Nanshu, this is more than just a lead role, it is his ticket out of poverty. But the night before the first day of shooting, the director has a troublesome dream. A dream that will dictated the fate of the film and the fate of Nanshu. And after months of training, there is only one thing Nanshu didn't prepare for: being fired.