Ikiru
This is the first non-samurai era Kurosawa film that I’ve watched and my mind is kinda blown. Ikiru translated to “To Live” in English follows Kanji Watanabe, a Japanese parks & rec worker who finds out he has less than a year to live after being diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. What follows is a man trying to figure out the meaning of life during his remaining days.
Takashi Shimura put on a beautiful performance as Watanabe in what is Kurosawa’s most emotional and intimate film. His journey of trying to find meaning after his diagnosis leaves the audience heartbroken over his relationship with his son then builds us back up when he decides he is going to do everything he can to build the playground for his community. He tries to find escape and leave the world behind in the nightlife of Tokyo but it leaves him in tears singing his requested song to the piano player.
Ikiru isn’t my favorite film by Akira Kurosawa, but it may be the most relatable to a wide audience. It is never too late to make the most out of your life and Watanabe is the prime example.
Rating: 96/100