| Overall Grade: |
A |
|
| Story: |
A+ |
|
|
| Acting: |
A- |
|
|
| Direction: |
A+ |
|
|
| Visuals: |
A- |
|
|
An uplifting and beautiful tear-jerker
by ElizabethB (movies profile)
Jun 21, 2006
Ikiru, one of Kurosawa's earliest films, can be considered as one of his many great materpieces. The story focuses on the character Watanabe, a city commissioner that just lives day to day in his job stamping papers, and making sure that nothing gets done. Then he finds out that he only has a year to live, and realizes that he's been wasting his life. In order to find meaning in his life he first tries to reconcile with his son, whose grown indifferent to him, but that doesn't work. He then tries to find his happiness in the red-light district, but that doesn't work either. He then latches himself onto his female employee, whose youthful vitality makes him feel alive. This young girl shows him the key to finding meaning in your life, and he spends the rest of his short life trying to help others in his own little way.
The movie then fastforwards a few months to his funeral. All the members attending the funereal try to deny Watanabe the good he has done, but after much discussion, and a lot of sake, they realize that what Watanabe did was truly great, and in their drunken stupors they vow to be just like him. If they keep that promise or not... well... that's for you to see.
This movie is beautifully directed, and the main character subdued but powerful presence at times both inspires you and makes you want to burst out crying. There are so many beautiful scenes in this movie, but probably the most powerful for me was the last scene (and the one on the cover) with Watanabe swinging on a swing and singing.
Unfortunately I really don't have words to describe how wonderful this movie is, so please, go see it for yourself. |
My Public Profile 
