Review of Red Beard (1965) by Eric F — 29 Jul 2009

1969's "Red Beard" doesn't necessarily exemplify what a casual film lover would expect out of Akira Kurosawa, but it's no less a hero film than any of his samurai epics.

The film marked a huge turning point in the legendary director's career. Not only was it his last film shot in black and white, but it was his last collaboration with Toshiro Mifune (whom he had worked with on sixteen occasions, including "Seven Samurai" and "Rashomon"). It also began a slump in his popular appeal, which would lead him to struggles with funding in many of his later films. That being said, however, "Red Beard", nor many of the films that followed it, suffered in quality.

Noburo Yasumoto (Yuzo Kayama) is a cocky young doctor who has been trained in advanced medical care at Dutch medical schools in Nagasaki. As the film begins, he's paying a visit to the Koishikawa Public Clinic, which is run by a deceptive man known as Kyoji Niide (Toshiro Mifune), or Red Beard. Yasumoto's guide shares horror stories of the public clinic, and claims that Red Beard is a dictator. Yasumoto, naturally, feels he's above such a primitive hospital.

Yasumoto soon learns that he must intern at the hospital. He meets the news immaturely, refusing to eat his first meal and displaying an unwillingness to wear his uniform in hopes of being expelled. Niide, however, remains patient and is able to set Yasumoto in his place after having him witness the death of an old patient, as well the brutal surgery of another.

There's a parallel story that develops with one of the patients, Otoyo (Terumi Niki), a 12-year-old prostitute who had been rescued. She, like Yasumoto, must eventually blossom into a more full and trusting individual. The film is very much about the human journey and a spiritual enlightenment, and it's shown through all of the main characters in the film - Niide, Yasumoto, and Otoyo.

At almost three hours in length, the film moves along at a leisurely place and cherishes all of the details. While some might feel it's too slow, it's the beautiful cinematography and touching performances that make it an engrossing picture. The film establishes it's pace so methodically that, unbeknowned to you, you invest so fully into this world that it's hard to leave once it's over.

"Red Beard" is not my favorite of Kurosawa's work, but lesser Kurosawa is far better than the best work of the majority of the world's directors. This is a wonderfully paced and optimistic portrait of the goodness in man, and it's a satisfying conclusion to the wonderful collaborations of Kurosawa and Mifune.