Set in 1865 Kyoto, the story centers on a samurai militia unit that fiercely defends the Shogunate.  Desperately in need of new recruits, the unit enlists 18-year-old Kano, a fearless warrior whose mesmerizing good looks immediately intrigue his fellow students, superiors and even his captain.  Before long, Kano’s bewitching beauty stirs up jealousy and competition within the militia.  After a series of mysterious murders provoke further suspicion, disorder erupts.  The visually tantalizing sword fights become eroticized rituals devoted to the forces of sex and death, exploding into a final image of exquisite beauty and fury.  Taboo is a unique entry in the samurai film genre because, unlike many of its predecessors, it explores queer relationships and sexual attraction among samurai men more deeply.