Ikiru

Yesterday, Japan won the Women's World Cup and congratulations are in order for both Japan and the United States for a great game yesterday.  However, it is only a coincidence that I cover today's movie, Ikiru.  The movie is a 1952 classic from Akira Kurosawa, who you will undoubtedly remember for Seven Samurai and Rashomon.  This 1952 classic was in many ways, an atypical Kurosawa movie, as the central story revolves around Kanji Watanabe, who only has months left after learning he has stomach cancer.  There are two parts to this movie: Watanabe trying to find meaning in his life and the people who knew him trying to make sense of his actions after his death.  The main purpose of this movie is not the life and death part, as that is set in stone.  Instead, Ikiru focuses on Watanabe's attempts to find a way to leave some kind of legacy for others.

There are many questions that can be picked from the movie, including why it takes a life threatening event to motivate a person to live, the state of Watanabe's relationship with his son, which seemingly was a one way street until the elder's death, and how exactly a change in hats can, if at all, change the way a man lives.  The movie is in black and white (no surprise, since it was made in 1952), is in Japanese with English subtitles, which is optional (it's a good idea to watch it without, but if you must, the subtitles are there to help you along), and runs over two hours.  The existentialist style in which this movie runs is obviously not for everyone, but if you have the time and patience to sit through this movie, then it is worth every second.