Dodesukaden (1970)

Actors: Yoshitaka Zushi, Kin Sugai, Toshiyuki Tonomura

Director Akira Kurosawa

This is Kurosawa’s first colour film. It is also a sort of comeback film for him after a 5 year break from films. The other interesting thing about his film is that there were 3 other Japanese directors (Kinoshita, Masaki Kobayashi & Kon Ichikawa) who coproduced this movie, to ensure it was made.

Despite this being a financial failiure, it was nominated in the Best Foreign Film category of the 44th Academy Awards. The visuals are amazingly pleasing and so are the “train” drawings that adorn the walls of the house of the protagonist.

Very moving film, at some point you feel like the characters are speaking to you. Especially the tramp father & son duo who live in an old abandoned car. He builds huge bungalows in his dreams, and he narrates the experience to his little son with passion.

It is a heavy story but very nicely made. The colours you see are pleasing and some great acting…

Lovely movie, a great watch

13 Assassins (2010)

Language: Japanese

Actors: Koji Yakusho

Director: Takashi Miike

Produced by Toho company, which incidentally produced some of Kurasowa’s best. This is a samurai film based on a true event. This is a remake of a 1963 B&W Japanese movie of the same name. The film climaxes with a gala bloodbath, a war that lasts at least 45 minutes. Given the fact that the movie runs only 2 hours, I personally feel 45 minutes is a bit too much of a bloodbath.

But if you take all fights, harakiri’s and killings the film would run for about 30-45 minutes. One should appreciate the courage of the makers who have given us a 2 hour movie at the back of a story that only lasts half an hour. Nevertheless it doesn’t bore you.

Koji Endo’s background score is also commendable.

Good watch if you are okay with some “blood and gore”

Thank you Naveen !!

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)

Japanese by Hiroshi Inagaki. Final Samurai installment. Great photography, good movie. A third part of a trilogy that doesn't bore you (compared to other trilogies) although the last 25 minutes drag a bit

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)

Japanese by Hiroshi Inagaki. The second of the Samurai Trilogy. More drama, less swordsmanship... The sword fight in the climax can be compared to the drum dance in Chandralekha, spectacular !!

Samurai I - Musashi Miyamoto (1954)

Japanese by Hiroshi Inagaki. Oscar winner 1955, first of the Samurai Trilogy. Toshiro Mifune sizzles as usual

Still Walking (2008)

A slow and steady family drama, but you know slow and steady wins the race

What's next Sajan ?

Kikujiro (1999)

This inspired Nandalala touted as one of the best #Tamil films in the recent past

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Amazing movie !!

Departures (2007)

The living eat the dead to survive, unless they are plants… That's from Departures, a Japanese movie that won Oscars 2008

Sanshiro Sugata (1943)

Kurosawa's Sanshiro Sugata WOW !!