IKIRU
I just saw one of the most incredible films I have ever seen: IKIRU. I cannot believe that it has taken 36 years for my path to collide with this genius film, but it has. What a gift of a film this is.
Ikiru is a black and white feature made in 1952 by Japan's acclaimed director, Akiro Kurosawa. It stars Takashi Shimura (pictured), and is about a man, Kanji Watanabe, who has held the same monotonous job at City Hall for the past 30 years. He knows his bureaucratic work is meaningless and, upon learning that he has stomach cancer, sets out to start living, rather than merely existing. (There are incredible visuals of Watanabe sitting at his desk, surrounded by mountains of paperwork. We stare at him while he thoughtlessly stamps paper after paper, without a hint of expression on his face.) He realizes that his relationship with his son is non-existent, and sets out to find some relationship to life besides useless work.
Without spoiling the film (which is almost three hours), I will report to you my favorite part: After learning he has incurable cancer, Watanabe goes to a bar and buys himself a drink for the very first time in his life. He decides to spend some of his life savings on himself. He meets a young writer who demands he take charge of his life--
MAN AT THE BAR SAYS TO WATANABE--
"I realize what they say about the
nobility of misfortune is true,
because misfortune teaches us the truth.
Your cancer has opened your eyes to your own life.
We humans are so careless.
We only realize how beautiful life is
when we chance upon death.
But few of us are actually able to face death.
The worst ones know nothing of life
'til they die.
You're splendid--
rebelling against life at your age.
Your rebellious spirit moves me!
You were a slave to your own life.
Now you will become its master!
I'm telling you--
It's your human duty to enjoy life.
Wasting it--
You desecrate God's great gift.
We've got to be greedy about living.
We learned that greed is a vice--
but that's old.
Greed is a virtue.
Especially this greediness for life!"
That speech pricked up my ears. It was during that speech that my interest in this movie was truly sparked (the beginning is slow, but there's lots of background and character development needed in the early part of the film in order for the rest of the film to be poignant).
I don't want to tell the middle or the end of the story. What could I possibly write, anyway? The storyline is so connected to the essence of life itself that words wouldn't do it justice.
I read a review online that said the message of Ikiru is simple: TO LIVE IS TO LOVE. THE REST IS CANCER.
Watanabe-san gives his life meaning by doing the unthinkable...
tags: jaibhakti, movies, Ikiru, Takashi Shimura, Akiro Kurosawa
posted by Unknown at 4:03 PM
23 Comments:
Sounds like a great film. How'd you find it?
Hi Fred!
I LOVE movies...'have since I was a little kid.
After I was hit by the car, I rented over 250 movies in the first year alone! (I was pretty housebound, then, too.)
So, I've seen most of the independent/art movies. Once in awhile, a gem like this falls out of the sky!! Yippy!
I did a search on Netflix last week. I told them that I was searching for directors that are similar to Wong Kar Wai (can't remember the spelling of his name), who directed Chung King Express (incredible film!!) and Netflix recommended IKIRU. So I went for it.
It was a bit slow at first, but then it picks up. I actually watched part of it again once I was finished viewing it the first time! I love the scene in the bar when the young guy in the black coat is telling Watanabe to embrace life. It's all good!
I hope you get to see it someday and that it resonates with you, too!
:)
Hi Mint Tea! Long time no see!
What is FLFC???
I'm perplexed.
Fill me in.
Thanks!
:)
Have you truly heard of IKIRU?? Are truly planning on purchasing a copy of it?? I think I will purchase a copy of it someday.
oops! I mean FLCL????
This movie has just rocketed to the top of my must-see list. Thank you for such a detailed, impassioned review.
It sure does sound like a great film! I am going to have to watch this one. I wonder if my boyfriend has heard of it, he's from Japan.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am glad I found yours. I like your cats, I can almost "see" their personalities in those photos!
The MTM keeps talking about FLFC. I've got no idea what it is, but I assume it's some kind of anime. As I've said before, anime is a triffle too pointy for me. So I wouldn't know.
I can't believe it. He gave up a perfectly good career to merely enjoy life. Whatever happened to ignorance? You think Columbus would've sailed to the Americas if he knew there wasn't a northwest passage? No! It was ignorance that helped humanity get where it is. Why spoil that by knowing?
Sounds good--I'll have to see it, hopefully Netflix has it.
Have you seen any Tatsuya Nakadal's films. He's also a Japanese film maker. I've watched the first of his three part trilogy (part one was over 3 hours). It's titled "The Human Condition, Part 1: No Greater Love."
I nominated you for Best Pet Blog award at
Bloggin' Out Loud!
You should be listed in a day or two. Congratulations!
Hi bhakti! Hope you are feeling better & all recovered. just got back from Venice Beach & am trying to catch up.
I would guess the F & C in FLCL means Film & Critic no guesses on the L's.
BTW, sounds like a movie I'd like, but never seem to have time for movies. The closest I get to forgien(?) film is watching Japanese cartoons on Adult Swim.
BAR BAR A: I love my Kitty Von Kitty! If you have a cat that you would like to be honored on JAIBHAKTI, just send me an email with a picture and a small write-up!
GYROBOFLASH: Lots of my students are into ANIME. When you say 'pointy', you are talking about the pointy hair and so forth in the drawing style, no??
Yes, he gave up his monotonous paper pushing to enjoy life: go figure! ;)
SAGE: Hi! I rented IKIRU from Netflix and sent it back today...so, I know they have it. I think you would really enjoy it. Like I said, it starts slow, and then picks up. I can't wait to see it again!
I'm definitely going to check out Tatsuya Nakadal's films. Thank's for the recommendation!
CABE: Wow! Thank you for nominating me. That's really cool.
BTW, how is your brother doing with getting me a photo of his pug?? :)
L>T: I'm doing better than I was last week, so that's something. Actually, that's a great thing! I'll take all I can get. Thank you for inquiring into my health. :)
Did you have fun in Venice Beach??
Bhakti, I read a blog by a woman in England who has breast cancer. I just gave her the link to your blog because I think she should read this movie review. Thanks for posting it.
I've gotta rent this one, Pronto! I have been familiar with Kirasawa's work for years and years..but not this film! Thank you soooo very much!
♪ Guess who ♫
It's Rick Anonymi, back from beyong the grave as Roboshrub Inc.'s new spokesrobot! The product expo it now. Be there or be.... I'm not reading thi-
Square!
Stop jabbing me with the spork...
It was great there. I loved the sunshine.
Don't know why i live where it rains all the time. I guess I love rain, also. Every time I've been away too long i miss the green & the trees.
Worth watching :)
How are you feeling?
P'shanu lewl ma'chani benta!
*waves hands*
Your life is now .000512% more meaningful. Magic.
KENJU: That's beautiful!
RICK: Right on!
KARL: !tuoba gniklat era uoy tahw wonk t'nod I
HEY FOLKS...i'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TYPE A LOT FOR AWHILE, SO THIS IS AN OPEN THREAD...START SEWING...
That was awesome. I want to see that movie now.
We only realize how beautiful life is when we chance upon death.
Wonderful line.
Why do we take so much for granted? I don't understand that.
That was one of my favorite lines, too! :)
Did you get the thing I sent you???
You were a slave to your own life.
Now you will become its master!
I'm telling you--
It's your human duty to enjoy life.
Wasting it--
You desecrate God's great gift.
Wow, ain't that the truth. Why, I wonder, does it take some of us (I'm speaking of myself!) so long to realize it. For me, it was a near death experience that ultimately changed my life.
~Mike
Now I feel completely validated. I discovered ‘Ikiru’ in the early sixties and it has remained, to my mind, one of the great movies of all time. It has many poignant moments, cinematically realized, such as when Wantanabe is walking in the street after he learns he has cancer and there is absolutely no sound on the track. You begin to think that there must be something wrong with the projector, than all of a sudden a car almost hits him and the sound comes alive. He realizes life is teeming all around him and he has been cut off from it.
The scenes with him contentedly singing on the swing never fail to move me. I love this movie and have been telling people about it for over forty years. Before the era of VCRs, I would wait until it was showing in one of the art houses in Manhattan and then bring a slew of my friends to share it with.
I am glad you and this gem found each other and that it is establishing a new audience.
Side note:
Tatsuya Nakadai was a star for many years before turning to directing. He was very handsome and charismatic, and was chosen by Kurosawa to play the worthy antagonist to Toshiro Mifune in “Yojimbo’ and ‘Sanjuro’, and starred in the legendary “Sword of Doom”.
This is definitely one of best films by Akiro Kurosawa...his films are amazing and often his characters have painful awarenesses.
Loved your post and insight on his film. Made it all the more meaningful.
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