The Hidden Blade (2004)

Second film in the trilogy by Yamada Yoiji.

same director - same themes of love and difficult decisions about honour

They both have same director. They both deal with love and duty vs honour, and a lower caste samurai being asked to kill someone he is reluctant to.

Both are based on fictions by Shuhei Fujisawa.

A 19th Century samurai, held in low esteem due to an action by his late father, must resolve his history with a maid and with his close friend.

The both protagonist are samurais, they seek avoid to use the violence, and both know great sword techniques.