Ikiru

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Hector I One of the master's finest films! The story of a paper-pusher who, on learning he's going to die, wakes up and tries to live, but above all tries to do something good for the community. His son won't talk to him, wants his money and his colleagues despise him. But he has found the strength to act through the rabbit girl. The funeral scene is superb: at first, his colleagues agree with the deputy that the park isn't Watanabe's, but one man stands up to say that it isn't. It was he who made the park, despite all the difficulties. Then, everyone recalls a detail of the project, and all the locals come to pray, his stubbornness in overcoming the administrative barriers, all the barriers despite the mafia. The scene where the construction starts and we see his face lit up, by God? A beautiful scene. Then his colleagues begin to realize the kind of man he was at the end, and in their drunken stupor decide to change. Months later, something unfair happens and his colleagues haven't changed a thing, except for the man who defended Watanabe first, who looks on. The closing scene with the swing is superb, with Watanabe singing under the snow of his accomplished work, no longer afraid of death and no longer having time for enemies. There's subtlety here, and you'd expect people to exclaim that he's a holy man, but there's none of that, no easy feelings here. A powerful indictment of the administrative society of the 1950s. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/11/25 Full Review Jay W I didn't know what to make of "Ikiru" as I began watching it. I had not heard anything about the film. I watched it because it was a Kurosawa film, and even if they don't feature samurai, Kurosawa makes great films. Our main character, Kanji, is told that he does not have long to live. Kanji has spent his life working for the government. There is an amusing montage showing how the red tape of government work prevents anything from being done. Given this ultimatum of life, Kanji begins to reevaluate things. He tries to find happiness. At first, I thought I had this movie figured out, and I thought it was fine. But then it takes a turn. After this turn happens, this movie upgrades from fine to spectacular. I won't say what that turn is, but when it happens, I was blown away. Life is short, but this film is still worth your time. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/25 Full Review Taylor T This a thought-provoking and deeply humanist portrait of a man in the final days of his life. Faced with the realization that he has immersed himself in a life-long career seemingly dedicated to accomplishing nothing of importance, he desperately tries various methods of bringing meaning to his existence. When pursuits of personal pleasure do not work for him, he finally realizes that helping others -- especially those who are essentially powerless -- is the key to his salvation. That process is shown in retrospect, utilizing flashbacks and the testimonials of his survivors. Shot in 1951, just six years after Japan's defeat in World War 2, the film depicts a city in near-ruin and a populous in the throes deprivation, not only physically, but in terms of morale. It can be difficult for modern, Western audiences -- especially those who do not understand the language and must rely on subtitles-- to grasp the entirety of the film's meaning. It is one of those films that can benefit from multiple screenings. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Tom F Much stronger than the lazy 2023 English remake. I absolutely understand why movies like this and Tokyo Story are beloved by film buffs. It just doesn’t register that hard for me. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/17/24 Full Review Alec B Yes its deeply moving and beautifully filmed but it's also worth mentioning what an incisive and continually relevant critique of bureaucratic cowardice this movie is Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/24 Full Review Merick H A masterpiece from one of the greatest directors of all time. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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