Ikiru -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 78)
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Ikiru is Akira Kurosawa's gift to the world. Kurosawa made Ikiru between Rashomon and Seven Samurai, a movie about an older man who has stomach cancer and is going to die. What makes Ikiru special? This video reviews and analyzes the Japanese classic film, asking why the second half of the movie jumps into a funeral scene.
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Disclaimer: All reasonable comments are welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life. I believe in freedom of association and, by extension, freedom of dissociation from you. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
The film definitely goes beyond existentialism. I am very proud of my nation produced a masterpiece.
you should be!
I have just watched it for the first time this evening. It is a gift to humanity. I am proud for your nation.
@@pollyannakarina WATCH ANAND 1971
Its my second fav kurusawa film after seven samurai- this movie makes u think about ur life more than any other
Your nation produces countless masterpieces . especially between 1940 and 1970
I love this movie! My favorite aspect of it is how Watanabe's fellow bureaucrats at his funeral are so dismissive of him, but slowly one would say "but there was that time...." and one by one they all seemed to remember a specific moment that struck them (those flashbacks are perfect), and by the end it's so freakin' awesome how they've all put together this beautiful timeline of what he did. And that last shot has me in tears every time.
thank you.
And it took a lot of sake for them to bring up the memories-“in sake veritas”?
If I remember well, there's a wise contrast between the formal funeral ceremony, with all these bureaucrats and relatives feeling pity or contempt for him (in contrast with all the honouring formalities), while the women in the neibourghood, the ones really benefited from his achievement, cry for real, feel real pain for the man who has done so much for them!
yes. that's a contrast, as is the local policeman who observed Watanabe on the swingset. There's only one bureaucrat who seemingly understands Watanabe in the end. Not even his son really does.
I find it remarkable that the protagonist in Ikiru is played by Takashi Shimura, who also played the head Samurai in Seven Samurai. What a remarkable range!
I’ve never even seen much Japanese cinema before this film, nor much foreign cinema in general. I grew up watching a lot of American cinema, but I took a break from cinema for the last 4 years until earlier this year.
Ikiru broke me. I have seen sad films, but I don’t think that there is a *medium* that has emotionally fractured me like this film did. I have seen hundreds of films, but nothing imho comes close to how moving this film is. The ending is the most beautifully sad thing I have ever seen. This film leaves so much open for interpretation. My interpretation is a depressing one, since the very end of the film shows how he doesn’t get credit and everything goes back to normal. What I personally love about this is how often this actually happens, how direct it is about being forgotten and being misinterpreted. So many stories mystify things to a unrealistic degree, when in reality, it’s completely utterly mundane. It’s so beautifully absurd, like something from “The Stranger” by Camus or “Notes from Underground” by Dostoyevsky. I personally feel the end is hopeless, which makes me personal love the movie even more.
Who knew that my favorite film would just be about a guy building a park. It’s truly a masterpiece.
outstanding comment. thank you.
I haven't seen this film in many, many years. But I certainly didn't come away feeling sad. I would compare it to another movie that has a similar feel, but left me dark: Long Days Journey Into Night. The point, I think, is that striving for credit or notice is an empty and ultimately frustrating goal. After all, we will everyone of us die and in a short while be forgotten. His joy came from him knowing that he had done some small good, one perhaps unnoticed, save by him. This is clearly not a religious film. A religious person can appreciate this perspective, knowing that secret and small things are noticed by the divine.
Another great film would be Grave of the Fireflies but it is even more emotionally devastating
I cried and cried and cried. Most touching movie I've ever seen. Sad, exhilarating and dammit....beautiful.
This movie makes me cry 😢
yes, hopefully a good cry.
@@LearningaboutMovies Yes, it can motivate you to actually change your life.
I have a few points of interest that may spur on further discussion:
1) Watanabe's voice is very revealing, hollow and understated. All the pent up frustration of his past life can barely escape his closed lips.
2) The girl from work is reminiscent somewhat of Shirley Temple with her doe eyes and bubbling laughter.
3)"Before the tides of passion cool within you" the last lines of the gondola song while sitting on the swing, couldn't be more apropos.
4) The rising harp arpeggios at the end of the phrases in the snow song are pure genius. In fact, the soundtrack could be played without the film and everything in it could be imagined and reconstructed.
excellent. the movie is filled with details that add up to its effects. You named some very good ones.
@@LearningaboutMovies An extra tidbit that might interest you, since I noticed you mentioned the seasons, is that seasons play a very important role in the narrative structure of Japanese stories. Winter specifically, is very often associated with *endings*. There are many Japanese films (the names escape me right now), particularly tragedies and romance stories, where the coming of winter foreshadows death, separation, or loss. Watanabe's final days being during the winter was no accident, it's part of a long-standing narrative tradition of Japanese stories. Just some fun facts for you, love your work!
This is one of the best films ever made. Top 5.
More layers to the swing set scene i thought about on my drive today: the weather. Weather and Kurosawa, man, every time its utilized it's important and has meaning.
So, snow. I've noticed, say for the entire framing story of Rashomon or whenever someone dies in Seven Samurai, rain is used. Or in Yojimbo, wind is blowing when he enters the city. In Kurosawas films, whether it's forbidding, scary, depressing, sad, whatever, inclement weather is 9/10 times gonna imply a negative emotion. However... in Ikiru, its snowing. Snow, a very innocent, pure kind of weather, one that is often remembered fondly when you reflect on your childhood and sledding with friends in the backyard. Add on the fact he's singing a song about the wonders of life while swinging, as you've mentioned which connects the theme of childhood even more, it further cements this scene as being one of the most bittersweet in all of cinema. Forbidding inclement weather but pure, he's doomed to die but now he's at peace.
an allusion to Citizen Kane? I am not sure if Kurosawa had seen it, but no matter: it's akin to Rosebud and the fond memories of youth in "Kane." I am not remembering any other snow in Kurosawa, besides the blizzard in Derzu Uzala, but perhaps he uses it repeatedly?
Today we have snow in NYC, i immediately thought of the snow scene at the end of Ikiru
In Japan, winter and snow is often symbolic of the end or death bc of farming and other complex things. Examples include school years ending in late winter. So it’s very fitting that Mr. Watanabe died in the winter. At least that’s what I think.
I would say the reason why the funeral setting in the 2nd half is there and why his last days are told in flashbacks and as memories of other people..
It's because Kurosawa was inspired from the start by the short novel "The death of Ivan Ilyich" written by Leo Tolstoy. The themes are the same. The protagonist and his environment are similar.
The novel starts with the protagonist's colleagues talking about him in the funeral and only after Tolstoy starts telling the story of the protagonist from the start.
I first saw this movie a half century ago when I was very young. I have never been able to forget it. It haunts me. I am so happy that it has been remade by another of my favourite persons-the novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. I am so looking forward to seeing the newer adaptation.
thank you.
Thanks for covering this Dr., great movie! For me, the emotional high in this movie was when the group of women come in crying at the funeral. And the men, all look at each other. That's one measure of life well lived, when strangers have that feeling of terrible loss.
you're welcome.
I just finished watching Ikiru for the first time, though it'd been on my list of must-watch movies for a very long time. Among the points you made about the movie, I also took from it a potent reminder that it's not too late, whatever age or point in my life I may be at, to do good and be charitable. Thank you as always for your excellent commentary.
the only time it's too late is when you are dead. Watanabe is in a hurry, eventually, but with enough time.
None of us are promised the next three seconds. It's more important to bring something good into the world than to create something grand and expensive. It may not exist with your name, but it will live on and make a difference.
thank you.
The swinging on the snowy weather binds to being a child and having this glow for life, like Watanabe mentions to the young lady, also they say his oily skin turned dry and rough.
very good, thank you.
It is definitely one of the greatest movies ever made, all of Kurosawa's movies are approximately masterpieces, but I think Ikiru and especially Rashomon might be best of the best. Why there are no more movies like these for so long time ago. Thank you for this analysis to this deep piece of art.
thank you. occasionally there is such a movie, but it takes a learned and wise person, and probably a large group of them really, to make such a movie. They are not in high supply these days, if they ever were (though the mid 20th century was pretty good for that).
Seven samurai is the best, then this movie
Absolutely 💯this film always made me cry
excellent!
that shot in the elevator going down, when it stopped at the bottom i *felt* it… beautiful film.
This is the best short analysis of this film I have seen. Well done!
thank you.
Greatest movie-related channel bare none! Way more interesting than other movie review CZcamsrs. I also love the kind of movies you're discussing. Added a few that I didn't know yet on my watching list as well.
thank you. the channel is still in its infancy, and hopefully will improve little by little.
Great recap. Thank u for making this video. Please keep letting others know this is a must watch. A week ago i seen this movie for the 7th or 8th time. This is one of my friend picker movies. I choose my friends on response to my list of movies. My first time i saw this movie, i was in a dark place in my life. The channel i had been watching was doing a Criterion Collection Saturdays, and this movie came up. It helped change how i was going look, respond, and accept life's curve balls. Also understand that i was not personally chosen for bad things to happen, i helped create some of my so called bad luck.
thank you
I just watched your commentary about this film. It was also introduced to me by another friend who has mutual indepth experience in Japan. Thank you for this insight to enhance my limited comprehension of the language. Your commentary, my friend's recommendation and considering my age, I definitely want to watch this classic. (Spiler, I was 5 years old when Kurosawa made this movie. Cheers, TokyoJerry.
Great breakdown. I will have to rewatch this! Has been a few years
thank you.
I think that nobody comes out with the same mindset that he/she had before this movie. Truly one of the greatest works of art. I personally believe that this movie wants to say live not only exist, because existence is empty without pure life. And after that life ends your legacy big or small will effect the next generation. And as a young Filmaker I have to say that this movie inspired me the most with Blade Runner to take the decision to follow my filmaking dream
Thank you Dr. Josh for highlighting and analysing this masterpiece!
The great Takashi Shimura might be not that celebrated like that of Toshiro Mifune. But, his versatility was endless! Who can say that the leading samurai from Seven Samurai and this Watanabe are the same person! How could Kurosawa juglle these actors between extremes of characteristics and different gravity of roles!
Watanabe's death scene would have been a real tearjerker. But that was not the point of the drama. His death was just an intermission. The narrative stretches beyond his death and focusses on the idiosyncrasies and personal biases of his conrades and family members. It was like the proverbial Blind men and the Elephant.
Each has something to argue aboit. But no one can grasp the whole truth. Kind of Rashoman effect.. Isn't it?
Yet another great essay by Dr. Josh!
With love from India
Jiten....
that's right, the funeral is a rehash of Rashomon. thank you!
@@LearningaboutMoviesHow do you get time to read so many responses?
Commendable.
well I owe it to people who stop by. Right now the channel doesn't get that many comments -- no more than several dozen a day. Once the volume goes up, it will be impossible to read and respond, though I will try.
@@LearningaboutMovies Dr Josh, are you a teacher of Film and related studies?
You have a lot books for sure!
I own the DVD and try to watch Ikiru at least once a year
excellent.
This is scheduled to play at the TCM Classic Film Festival next month- hoping to see it for the first time there, then come back and watch this video.
Yes a great movie of a "little" life. My special project when I studied cinema was on Kurosawa and I analysed the very intriguing and complex structure of Ikiru.
thank you.
I saw this movie years ago and never forgot it. I think that is part of what makes a great movie.
Great review! One of my favorite films.
thank you.
Its my second fav kurusawa film after seven samurai- this movie makes u think about ur life more than any other
yes!
Thanks for great invaluable informing.
you're welcome.
Nice! This & Ran are my 2 fav movies from my fav director. No doubt cuz this is not a samurai movie, this was not the 1st Kurosawa movie I heard of or saw but what a powerful discovery (much like High and Low & Bad Sleep Well). This has gotta be Takashi Shimura's best role, hes always solid tho. Thank you for your analysis, this film digs deep....
I always connect this movie to Bergman's Wild Strawberries
I wouldn't watch too much of this video without seeing the movie 1st, like you said spoiler alerts
yeah, spoilers. Although there's a time limit on spoiler warnings -- ten years old? yes, Wild Strawberries!
Thanks, my new favorite movie
I first saw this movie as an undergrad at Mount St. Mary's College in 2002. It changed my life. It beg me to ask me why should I exist? Where am I going? Is there more to life thank work, family and death?
isn't it remarkable how one movie can change us?
It will be interesting to see if the British remake (“Living”) measures up. Surprisingly, it got good reviews at Sundance 2022, so there’s hope.
You have provided an excellent analysis of this film. I just watched it for the first time recently and I was so impressed by every aspect of the film. The type of story felt very much like a Yasujiro Ozu story... about our lives. It is now one of my top 10 favorite films. I didn't realize Kurosawa made such "everyday life" sort of films, I thought he was all about making the epic style film.
thank you.
Another great analysis Josh! This is such and amazing and powerful movie, one of the kind that can and should be watched by everyone since I think it really has the power to guide you through life. What I gathered from my first viewing is that the general goal of human life is to create. But the nuance wich the movie gives to this pretty common thought is that we should not necessary aim for a transcendantal creation (e.g. writing the next Brothers Karamazov) but for creation either in and out of itself or for our well-being or the one of other. If you create in order to be praised by other, you will certainly be disappointed, but if you aim for a smaller goal wich has the power to change people's lives - and not have the power to change your own reputation - then you have access to a higher way of living.
Thanks again for the video Josh, can't wait to see what you're cooking next!
exactly, the typical human scope is local, charitable aid for neighbors we can see, hear, touch, and smell. Almost all creating is for them, in so-called small acts, that are essential to the basics of society, but more importantly to human dignity. It's a damn wise movie, competing in a way with all of those gigantic, larger-than-life hero movies and stories about saving the world or universe.
Great video. Really.
thank you.
This just got a Hollywood remake
LIVING 2022 staring Bill nighly
This film in particular is a well-acted and a moving humanist tale about one man facing his own morality. This is probably Kurosawa's most intimate film. And just like Citizen Kane, i can also see why this movie also having a reputation as a landmark in Japanese cinema. I give this a 9.3/10 rating. A very incredible film and although despite its semi-slow pacing its definitely one of the best. 😊😊👍👍
thank you.
@@LearningaboutMovies You're welcome Dr. Josh. 😊😊👍👍
Just went to watch the new version of this Movie "The Living" with Bill Nighy - In what has been praised as a ‘career-best’ performance by critics, Bill Nighy delivers an Oscar-nominated tour de force in understated acting in the tender drama.
I like ur summary of this movie
thank you.
Great analysis/review :) I was brought here by my own video listing it as one of my all-time favorites (along with The Fountain, which I saw in your intro)! The crazy thing for me is that I saw it when I was most of the way done with my first novel, and the themes (particularly how it answers finding purpose in life) are heavily similar. I just recently realized that the cover even looks a bit like the "swing in snow" cover shot of the film: www.amazon.com/dp/1734847719 . Anyways, thanks for covering this all-time classic!
thank you. Good catch of The fountain clip in the intro!
Ikiru (as well as Yoidore Tenshi) are nearly perfect films. You could take the characters and plot, move them to any location or culture, and the movie still works. Yet they are just as Japanese as any of his samurai epics and wonderful keyholes into the spirit of Japan.
thank you.
Momento mori (latin for remember your mortality by the stotic thinker and roman emperor Marcus Aurelius). I think its important for all adults that can handle it mentally to come as close as possible to terms with mortality. Not holding onto anything in life so tight, life depends on that thing. I heard of the movie "living" made last year on a podcast which is a british remake of this movie. I been reading "death of ivan ilych" which is the book this movie is based on. I plan to consume all 3 versions. Reminds me of breaking bad, walter white in season1.
Once again a film that is true in any time period. All men know that they shall die, or sooner or senselessly. The glittery, cheap escapism swamping younger people is as much a death as the sarariman's (person's) desk, yet all those frantic influences, cravings and needs, mistaken for living, are as illusory here as they were in 'The Lower Depths'. Having the writer in the role of 'a kind of Mephistopheles' says much about both religions and addictions, and their predators.
This is very typically Japanese - the kind of introspection and the resulting epiphanies that one can see in other Japanese movies.
For instance, the film departures touched upon a subject that is or was very nearly taboo in polite Japanese society. Whenever I watch it, I positivily weep buckets of tears.
Two of my very favourite Kurosawa films are Ran and Dreams.
Have you reviewed spiral staircase .it’s a lesser film then this ,but a small gem of the forties
Have just co edited a book on film noir music ,being published in September 2022
Just discovered this channel
I love your observations
thank you very much, and welcome. I haven't seen that movie. I 'll check it out.
hello sir would love to know your views on Ingmar bergman's seventh seal seen it recently
yeah, that's on my list. thank you for asking I'll try to get to it in the next 3-5 months!
Hello sir I would love to know your views on Rome, Open City. I saw it last night.
very interesting movie. special because of its style, subject matter, and proximity in time to its subject matter. Last time I was in Rome, I looked at the WW2 museum there plus some of those sites, and so I need to watch the movie again, which would likely watch completely differently for me.
literally it is a great great movie on of my top 5
thank you.
I saw Ikiru tonight.
I love Kurosawa but I thought it (along with Rashomon) was over-rated.
I much prefer High and Low - that's a fantastic film!
Off topic here, forgive me, but have you considered reviewing The Exorcist 3 and The Ninth Configuration, if you haven’t already?
persuade me to review these older horror movies. I wouldn't try them otherwise, so are the bulk of reviewers missing something about them?
@@LearningaboutMovies The Exorcist 3 came out in 1990 and it took a beating from the critics. It was on a few worst films lists in that year.
However, over the years it’s gained a dedicated following. Today It’s not hard to find current reviews arguing it was misunderstood by critics at the time. I agree with that. Of course the film has its faults but what’s right with the movie far out weighs what’s wrong. The dialogue is excellent, George C Scott gives a strong performance as does Brad Dourif.
It’s a strange film in the way it was filmed and the pacing and settings are effectively creepy. There will still be people who hate it but it is worth a watch.
@@LearningaboutMovies The Ninth Configuration is also written and directed by Peter Blatty and is an excellent film that has flown under the radar for years for some reason. It’s not obscure but a lot of people have never heard of it. I think it deserves more attention and exposure to a wider audience.
I looked it up before your explanation, and I was already halfway in with Scott and Dourif. Do I need to see the Exorcist 2? Thank you for the recommendation.
@@LearningaboutMovies No, don’t worry about Exorcist 2..
They had to piece together what he did. Watanabe was very discreet about his achievement.
thanks.
what do you think about "living" and have you seen it?
no, I haven't seen it. I'll have a hard time trying it, as I don't think a remake it necessary. Have you seen it, and is it worth it?
could you please cover masaki kobayashis human condition trilogy?
Hey, awesome breakdown of a truly awesome classic! I am actually in the process on my channel of putting together a community list of the Top 100 Greatest Films of All Time and I was wondering if you’d be interested in contributing a list to the poll!
What would that entail? Please email me to answer.
@@LearningaboutMovies Okay! What email can I contact you at?
I love Kurosawa’s reoccurring cast! This movie fucked me up though 😔
it can do that, hopefully in good ways.
Its a Wonderful Life?
I sincerely hope that one day Dr. Josh will be more famous than that sweet Roger Ebert!
thank you, though I'd take his wealth and legacy over his fame!
@@LearningaboutMovies Ha Ha
But, his chubby, baby face!
That is something unattainable.
I think you can do it if you eat well.
ANAND 1971 WAS ALSO INSPIRED FROM THIS
thank you.
SEE "KUROSAWA'S DREAMS"
I agree with you completely, you should watch RAJ KAPOOR movies his movies had meanings about life , he made movies for the poor people in india .
This is a really sad movie
Loved the movie but i have to say something. Many things do not age well in the play of many of the actors and even the situations. Sometimes you see an old movie which fly the ages (Chaplin for eg) but the side characters do not cut it. It feels over played, kabuki style and forced and since the second part is mostly composed of those it gives a bit of shadow to the movie.
at least he did not end up making a meth empire
really enjoyed this not much like it!
Ikiru is great!
What are your seventy others
What does seventy refer to? It's been a couple of years since I made this video and I don't remember what that is referring to.
Good story, men walk around not knowing what they want and what to put in this world ,its like men dont know their own power
What DOESN'T make this movie great ? It has too many qualities to list
yes!