Dersu Uzala (1975)

 Akira Kurosawa's "Dersu Uzala"

Akira Kurosawa was always very interested in Russian literature and Soviet films. One piece of literature he always was drawn to was V.K. Arseniev's 1923 memoir "Dersu Uzala." Kurosawa originally wanted to turn the novel into a film in the 1930s, but could not because the Soviet government rarely allowed foreigners to travel the taiga region, where Kurosawa insisted that the film would need to be shot. It wasn't until the early 1970s that Kurosawa finally was able to get permission to travers the Siberian landscape, on the condition that the production team was heavily monitored. 

The film tells the story of a topographical surveyor, Captain Arseneiv mapping the Siberian region of Russia. After happening upon a nomadic Goldi hunter, the surveyor enlists the hunter to join the team. Through terrain both beautiful and harsh, the two form an unbreakable bond. 

I feel as though the film did a successful job in communicating the thematic nature of the memoir. It's a navigation of nature that forges a friendship. It's a contemplation of both the cold, uncaring savagery of nature, while at the same time appreciating the pure, majestic beauty of it. When Captain Arseniev brings Dersu back to 'civilization,'  Kurosawa creates such a claustrophobic environment with the beige and white empty rooms for Dersu to inhabit. It's such a contrast to the free, openness, albiet dangerous, wilderness. 

The ending, to me, is also very Russian. When Dersu decides to leave, Captain Arseniev gifts his friend a brand new shooting rifle, due to Dersu's lack of vision. When Captain Arseniev discovers that Dersu died, he learns that he was murdered by bandits who wanted to steal the fancy weaponry. It was the Captain's generosity that killed his best friend. The final shots are Captain Arseniev watching Dersu's body being buried in the ground. Talk about a Russian ending.