The Idiot (1951)

 Akira Kurosawa's "The Idiot"


Kurosawa had grand visions when he adapted Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1869 novel "The Idiot." Kurosawa had originally crafted a 265 minute version of the film, only for the studio to demand it be cut down. This original version now no longer exists and the stripped-down 166 minute version, is all that remains. 

"The Idiot" tells the story of a man suffering from epileptic dementia, and is often referred to as 'an idiot' because of it. However, the man, Kameda, is good natured and endlessly selfless to everyone around him. The film hinges upon an intricate web of relationships that get tangled between Kameda and various romantic interests and their respective suitors. Everyone is drawn to Kameda due to his goodness. 

The film intrigued me in various sections. I did feel as though the film had quite a bit of weight with its runtime. It felt like it dragged in several places. But, there are two main sequences that hold most of the dramatic weight of the entire film. Those two sequences really served as the crux of the film for me, displaying the film's intricate relationships on display in a summarized format. Because of these sequences, the film works. 


   

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