Review of Ikiru (1952) by Ryan V — 17 Mar 2016
The first half of Ikiru ("to live) focuses on an elderly bureaucrat (Takashi Shimura) who embarks on a heartbreaking quest for identity after receiving notice of mortal illness. The second half of the film takes place after this man has died and it studies what kind of effect his passing has made upon those around him.
Director Akira Kurosawa relies heavily on facial closeups to bring impact to the film's themes and this helps his cast deliver lines in a way that transcends subtitle barriers. While Ikiru does make plenty of room to take potshots at the inadequacies of government, the movie as a whole is an emotive, honest, and forthright meditation on the nature of human frailty in its myriad forms.
This review of Ikiru (1952) was written by Ryan V on 17 Mar 2016.
Ikiru has generally received very positive reviews.
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