Ikiru

Heartbreaking. Devastating. Haunting. Ikiru is a beautiful story about a man, Watanabe, and his outlook on life once learning he will soon die. His story is tragic, yet reigns all too true in our society. The ending, which cannot be understated, is the most uniquely frustrating conclusion to a film I have ever seen, and yet I fully expected it to happen. Life is fragile and deserves to be lived to its fullest, as many will never know what breath they will call their last. Watanabe had the challenge of knowing his time left, and the courage to persevere through it. This film grabs hold of the viewer's emotions, and continues to hold it long after it ends.