Ikiru

There were times while watching this movie that it was well on its way to being one of my favorites of all time. Takashi Shimura gives one of the most passionate performances I’ve ever seen, where he is able to do so much despite limited dialogue thanks to the incredible control he has over his eyes and facial expressions. I could see directly into the mind of the character without a word being said. It’s profoundly sad, but also profoundly moving.  However, there is a structural change in the final 3rd that I’m not entirely on board with. I understand the point: not just a scathing critique of the bureaucratic system (still very relevant today!) but also a commentary on how it’s very easy for people to come together and become emboldened to make a difference when there is as significant a catalyst as an unexpected death, but it is very difficult to actually hold to the promises made when life returns to normal and emotions cool. But I felt like it became a little too overly sentimental and took away some from Watanabe’s story, which is the key reason I loved the first 2/3rds so much.  I’m still giving this five stars though, because the cinematography, the music, and Shimura’s performance are so unfathomably good that it makes it pretty easy to ignore my qualms with it. Probably my second favorite Kurosawa so far after Seven Samurai. He’s just one of the greatest to ever do it.