Review of Ikiru (1952) by Gavin W — 23 Dec 2007

The perfect piece of cinema. Kurosawa's favourite of his own portfolio. Sublime.

This review of Ikiru (1952) was written by Gavin W on 23 Dec 2007.

Ikiru has generally received very positive reviews.

Was this review helpful?

Yes

More reviews of this movie:

More Reviews of Ikiru

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Paul D (6,077) on 15 Dec 2015

Slow, moody and poignant, all of which emphasis the deep soul searching that occurs in the first part of the movie, and make up the sum of…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Matthew B (2,571) on 06 Oct 2016

How tragic that man can never realize how beautiful life is until he is face to face with death…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Andrew I (238) on 06 Mar 2014

This may not sound like a barrel of laughs, but Ikiru is certainly a lot less grim than one might expect…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Simon D (1,648) on 19 Apr 2016

A very inspiring story of a bloke who has wasted his life in a meaningless office job then has a moment of clarity. Splendidly Japanese…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Carlos M (2,069) on 20 Nov 2016

5 Stars. Such a perfect, beautiful little film…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Jens L (123) on 05 Jun 2018

Very powerfull movie. Yet another masterpiece by kurosawa-…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Richard Brody (868) for New Yorker (1,403) on 07 Apr 2016

Kurosawa achieves the piercing emotion and poetry of the Italian neorealists, but by opposite means: he doesn't make the camera disappear;…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Charlie C (204) on 20 Nov 2016

Has Akira Kurosawa ever made anything that wasn't considered one of the greatest films ever made…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Knox M (462) on 22 Jul 2017

What a penetrating, heartbreaking film this is, a movie so revelatory in its honesty that it ends up being the most authentic depiction of…

Read Review

Review of Ikiru (1952)

By Jayakrishnan R (1,070) on 17 Sep 2015

This is a wonderfully idealistic, sentimental meditation on what it means to live…

Read Review

More reviews of this movie

Reviews of Similar Movies

Review of Audrey Rose (1977)

By Alexander C (2,448) on 01 Dec 2012

Anthony Hopkins was probably the best actor in this movie. The plot was kind of weak…

Read Review

Review of Summertime (1955)

By Steve P (906) on 20 Feb 2011

Inane and overacted. The photography of Venice is about the only thing of any value. Katherine Hepburn is terrible…

Read Review

Review of The Long Day Closes (1992)

By Andrew A (555) on 21 Feb 2009

One of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. British indie drama so had high hopes but nothing whatsoever happens in this film…

Read Review

Review of Look Back in Anger (1959)

By Rachael H (286) on 20 Oct 2010

A 1950s kitchen sink drama which is very Coronation Street…

Read Review

Review of An Autumn Afternoon (1962)

By Ann S (184) on 14 Dec 2009

I know it's very difficult to make these small films, where every character seems real, but really, a bit more has to happen…

Read Review

More Reviews

Popular Movies Right Now

Love

2015

54%174 Reviews

John Wick: Chapter 4

2023

78%170 Reviews

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

2023

79%186 Reviews

Purple Hearts

2022

56%11 Reviews

The Prodigy

2019

53%39 Reviews

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

2017

69%660 Reviews

The Platform

2019

70%94 Reviews

The Invitation

2022

47%33 Reviews

A Quiet Place

2018

76%1,685 Reviews

The Menu

2022

70%145 Reviews