Ikiru
“We only realize how beautiful life is when we face death”
Sometimes we take our lives for granted, and we really don’t realize that until it is too late. Such an incredible, yet sad movie from the legendary Kurosawa that offers a great critique on the prioritization of one’s job over their actual life, as well as on the seemingly perpetual inadequacy of bureaucratic systems. These two major critiques of the film hold up in 2026 America as well as they must have back in 1952 Japan. The scene of Watanabe on the swing is so well done and I really love it. This movie has some impeccable cinematography and incredible acting to compliment it. This film uses intense close ups a lot as well, which is a style I am personally a very big fan of and really loved in this movie. Kurosawa is a legendary filmmaker, and this is absolutely some of his best work.