Ikiru
“Truly beautiful. A sunset. I don’t think I’ve really looked at one in 30 years.”
This film is so tragic and so real. So many people live their lives without ever really living. It doesn’t take accomplishments, skill, or any recognition from others. It just takes passion and dedication to enjoying the one life that you are given… to doing what you really want to do. In our world there are many things which try to prevent us from this. Even more so than we even realize.
Hell, Ikiru was made in 1952 and I’ve never seen a film that so perfectly illustrates that. I am so inspired by how flawlessly Akira Kurosawa is able to capture human experience. The plot of Ikiru is so starkly simple, yet Kurosawa so perfectly crafts the dialogue, characters, and visuals that it makes the viewer really feel every emotion.
Every philosophy student should be required to watch Ikiru; I am changed because of this. The scene in the ending of Mr. Watanabe swinging in the snow while singing is one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever seen.
This film is absolutely perfect.