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Dersu Uzala
The final of the three Kurosawa films I am reviewing was this collaborated effort between Kurosawa and the Soviet MosFilm studio. This was an adaptation of the novel of the same name. Set (and shot) in Siberia, the film details a Russian military group sent to map the Siberian wilderness. There they encounter an eccentric Mongolian hunter named Dersu Uzala. He helps them through the wilderness, helps them find shelter, and even saves their lives on more than one occasion. The film shows their travels in the wilderness as well as the bond that grows between Dersu and the Captain of the detachment. The film also runs heavy the theme of nature which is prevalent in many of Kurosawa’s films. And this film takes advantage of its setting by shooting some BEAUTIFUL shots of the Russian wilderness in 70mm. That is easily one of the best parts of the film. Some breathtaking shots that are just a sight to behold. And while the story of man, nature, and the man in turn with nature has been done before, I really liked the relationship between the Russian Captain and Dersu. It was a nice bit of comradeship between two walks of life. Almost a mirror to the collaboration between Kurosawa and the Russians to make this film. The entire film is in Russian, and I doubt Kurosawa spoke a lick of the Russkie language. But the film was deemed worthy enough to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. And it is a fantastic way to end the filmography of one of my all time favorite directors.
This is both a happy moment but also a sad one. I have seen so many of Kurosawa’s films that I kinda started to take for granted that there was still more of his stuff for me to see. And now that it is over I know I will never see anything new by him again. At least when I watched the last film of my Scorsese Binge, I knew he was still alive and making movies. No such luck with Kurosawa. But at the same time, I have seen the complete feature filmography of one of the greatest filmmakers who ever lived. And as many of you would want, here are my ratings for all of Kurosawa's films.
Now I can focus on new filmmakers. And I have a new favorite in particular I want to focus on. Time to watch more films of Jean Pierre Melville.
Dersu Uzala
The final of the three Kurosawa films I am reviewing was this collaborated effort between Kurosawa and the Soviet MosFilm studio. This was an adaptation of the novel of the same name. Set (and shot) in Siberia, the film details a Russian military group sent to map the Siberian wilderness. There they encounter an eccentric Mongolian hunter named Dersu Uzala. He helps them through the wilderness, helps them find shelter, and even saves their lives on more than one occasion. The film shows their travels in the wilderness as well as the bond that grows between Dersu and the Captain of the detachment. The film also runs heavy the theme of nature which is prevalent in many of Kurosawa’s films. And this film takes advantage of its setting by shooting some BEAUTIFUL shots of the Russian wilderness in 70mm. That is easily one of the best parts of the film. Some breathtaking shots that are just a sight to behold. And while the story of man, nature, and the man in turn with nature has been done before, I really liked the relationship between the Russian Captain and Dersu. It was a nice bit of comradeship between two walks of life. Almost a mirror to the collaboration between Kurosawa and the Russians to make this film. The entire film is in Russian, and I doubt Kurosawa spoke a lick of the Russkie language. But the film was deemed worthy enough to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. And it is a fantastic way to end the filmography of one of my all time favorite directors.
This is both a happy moment but also a sad one. I have seen so many of Kurosawa’s films that I kinda started to take for granted that there was still more of his stuff for me to see. And now that it is over I know I will never see anything new by him again. At least when I watched the last film of my Scorsese Binge, I knew he was still alive and making movies. No such luck with Kurosawa. But at the same time, I have seen the complete feature filmography of one of the greatest filmmakers who ever lived. And as many of you would want, here are my ratings for all of Kurosawa's films.
Now I can focus on new filmmakers. And I have a new favorite in particular I want to focus on. Time to watch more films of Jean Pierre Melville.