Dersu Uzala

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Virgo V Dersu Uzala is a 1975 Soviet-Japanese biographical adventure drama film directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa, his only non-Japanese-language film and his only 70mm film. The film is based on the 1923 memoir Dersu Uzala (which was named after the native trapper) by Russian explorer Vladimir Arsenyev, about his exploration of the Sikhote-Alin region of the Russian Far East over the course of multiple expeditions in the early 20th century. Shot almost entirely outdoors in the Russian Far East wilderness, the film explores the theme of a native of the forests who is fully integrated into his environment, leading a style of life that will inevitably be destroyed by the advance of civilization. It is also about the growth of respect and deep friendship between two men of profoundly different backgrounds, and about the difficulty of coping with the loss of capability that comes with old age. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the Golden Prize and the Prix FIPRESCI at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival and other awards. It was also a box office hit, selling more than 21 million tickets in the Soviet Union and Europe in addition to grossing $1.2 million in the United States and Canada. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Lord V A thrilling visual and storytelling masterpiece. One of Akira Kurosawa’s underrated classics. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/11/24 Full Review Peter W Overall, this is a strong story about an unlikely and touching friendship. Performances here feel genuine, plus I enjoyed seeing the friendship grow more beautiful as the film progressed. Visually, I loved seeing the various settings and locations this film takes its audiences through, all of which kept the film highly captivating. It's a slow-paced film, but my engagement was always present due to the delightful and charming story and the gratifying finale. No wonder this film won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 1976. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/15/23 Full Review william d A good old fashioned "man vs. nature" tale, coupled with some poignant male camaraderie between Maxim Manzuk and Yury Solomin. I don't know why they don't make movies like this any more. They're much more interesting than the preachy/woke and superhero movies they make these days. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review William M One of Akira Kurosawa's best movies, though little known in the USA. Very much worth the effort of finding it, if you can. A simple story, well told, and great shots (filmed on location) of the Russian Far East. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/20/22 Full Review Audience Member That dude from Deep Siberia is boring sometimes. 5/10 Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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