1968年の「肉弾」で自らの戦争体験の意味を問い直した岡本喜八監督が、100年前に時代をさかのぼって戊辰戦争を材にとり、同じ境遇に生きる若者の青春を描いた作品。師・マキノ雅広を思わせる軽妙なタッチながら、死と背中合わせの若者の心情を刻む。During the military phase of the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Sentaro joins a local militia loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate in order to fight Imperial troops. But Sentaro's friendship with a pickpocket, who switches sides whenever it suits his needs, leads to complications that could cost Sentaro his life as they infiltrate enemy lines.