High and Low

I've now reached the 25% mark in my 40-film challenge, and this is the first film on the list to feature color (even though it's just one shot in an otherwise entirely B&W movie). Akira Kurosawa was on a fucking legendary run in the 1960s. Directing High and Low in 1963 after Yojimbo in 1961 and Sanjuro in 1962, and having them all turn out this great, is extremely impressive. He directed the shit out of this. It was really interesting to watch a Kurosawa film other than Ikiru that isn't a period drama or action film set in feudal Japan. I also think this is the most subtle Kurosawa film I've seen so far, and as such, I'll probably need to think about it more and watch it again before I can fully appreciate it. For now, I'll just say I found High and Low to be a captivating exploration of class division and the functions of the major institutions in a capitalist society. Next up: Onibaba