View Single Post
Home Theater Forum
Old 05-12-2003, 10:02 AM   #367 of 3726
Lew Crippen
Member
 
Location: Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexíco
Join Date: May 2002
Local Time: 01:33 PM
Local Date: 10-12-2008
Posts: 11,414

Ikiru, which is the final film in the Kurosawa/Mifune retrospective currently showing in Dallas. What a treat to see this in a theatre.

Many (and I am one) consider this film Kurosawa’s finest. This film was made right after Rashomonp and is a deeply moving portrait into a single man’s realization of the futility of his life and
Spoiler:
his determination to accomplish at least one small thing before he dies.


The journey that he takes in attempting to enjoy life and his attempt to recapture his youth through another, seem to me to be truer and more realistic each time I see this film.

But the scene where the actions taken by him are examined and dismissed and praised by his colleagues has always seemed to me to be completely on the mark.
Spoiler:
The end of this scene where the minor city office workers pledge to learn from his life and act accordingly, we know is a hollow promise. Kurosawa leads us unremittingly to that knowledge, but, as always he ends with such an optimistic note, as we are finally shown the results on one man’s legacy. The final shot of the children playing in the park and being called in for dinner, as a matter of routine is as filled with humanity and as optimistic as any in cinema.



¡Time is not my master!
Lew Crippen is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket Reply With Quote sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum