Red Beard (1965)

 Akira Kurosawa's "Red Beard"

Perhaps this is going to get me into trouble with the film community, but for some reason, I did not connect with Akira Kurosawa's 1965 film "Red Beard" as much as most do. That being said, I completely 'GET' the movie and what it is trying to accomplish. In fact, I still find it to be an outstanding film. However, my emotional connection to the film was lacking. 

"Red Beard" is, by far, Kurosawa's most un-Kurosawa film in his more impressive works. That isn't to say that it doesn't have Kurosawa written all over it. I'm simply saying that the narrative and camerawork points to a more matured and subtle Kurosawa. Not that Kurosawa's previous work is immature, by any means. However, I do think that this level of mastery in subtly leavse the kineticness and vibrancy that Kurosawa is accomosted to in his work behind. I am typically not the kind of film viewer to judge something by how long and slow it is. I personally find slow and long movie incredibly engaging. I found this to be engaging, even. However, I felt a little jolted from the Kurosawa ouvre with which I've grown accostomted.

And again, I do find importance and significance in the film. It is quite a depressing film. Kurosawa explores the vastness of human suffering with his multi-faceted characters. Much like our protagonist, we grown into a far more empathetic being by simply identifying and understanding the suffering of others, which takes practice. This practice and patience is perhaps the point of the kinetic-less slow-pace long film. Kurosawa makes you sit with these characters and inhabit their lives and struggles. Only then do we escape our own priveldge and find what it means to deeply care about someone else. The character of Red Beard teaches both the protagonist and us this. 

As I am writing this, I am reflecting positively on the film and my experiences watching it. Like I stated earlier, "Red Beard" is a fantastic film that I enjoyed. However, I think I enjoy it more as something seperate from Kurosawa, as for me, it does not compare to the typicality in his work.