loyalty versus duty

His samurai films like 'Ran' and 'Sanjuro' explore the tragic conflict between personal loyalty to a lord and moral duty to justice and humanity.

His crime thrillers ('Heat', 'Collateral') consistently pit characters' loyalty to their codes or partners against their duty to law, morality, or personal relationships.

His historical dramas ('Assassin', 'The Assassin') delicately examine how loyalty to family, nation, or principle conflicts with ethical duty in moments of political upheaval.