Review of Ikiru (1952) by Joan W — 05 Sep 2008

I found out that today marks the 10 year anniversary of Kurosawa's death, so I got this film from the library to watch out of respect or something like that. Anyway, I've never seen a Kurosawa film not set in feudal japan.

I've seen most of his famous historical movies (7 Samurai, Throne of Blood, Ran, Kagemusha, Rashomon, Yojimbo), but I'd never seen him tackle a modern setting, so this was one I was looking forward to.

The film is just brilliant. It's structured into two halves, so to speak, one part being about a man who comes to terms with his own mortality and human limitations, the second taking place 5 months later at his wake as the guests recount what's happened in the intervening time.

It's a very slow movie and makes no apologies for being so: like its protagonist, it needs time to express itself, but unlike him, it manages to do so beautifully. I don't really know how to keep on praising the film and add anything of value to the reader, but I really did love this movie.

I need to go find some more of Kurosawa's modern films, but I don't know if any of them will top this.