Kurosawa – I Live in Fear

Posted on 25. Jan, 2009 @ 2:05 pm by in Media Views: 1,024


Like most Japan-heads I have seen a lot of Kurosawa movies. The standard Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Rashomon are some of my favorites.

Now that I’m in school again and have access to a university library I have been borrowing Japanese films like a madman. Having re-watched most of my favorites already, I’m slowly breaking into new territory.

I recently saw a Kurosawa movie that I had previously never even heard of. The official English title is “I Live in Fear“, the Japanese title is 生き物の記録、which roughly translates into “Record of a Living Being”. (Note, the Amazon link goes to a boxed set with I Live in Fear and other rare Kurosawa movies. Seems I Live on Fear is only available from Amazon US in this set, in VHS, or as a DVD import with a non-US region.)

I heard about this movie while doing reading about the bombing of Hiroshima for a course I am taking. “I Live in Fear” is one of the few post-war Kurosawa movies that directly deals with the atomic bombings.

Without giving too much away, the plot involves a man who is so frightened of a potential future bombing that he nearly loses his mind trying to convince his family to move to Brazil with him where he believes they will be safe. But, is he really crazy? Shouldn’t everyone be worried?

I really enjoyed this movie. It was released in 1955, just 10 short years after the bombs were dropped and the war ended. Considering that any discussions or publications about the bombings within Japan were officially censored by the U.S. occupation authorities until 1952, it must have been quite the shocker to see back then. I’m sure it would have given me nightmares.

Random tidbit – did you know that Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis was based on Yojimbo? Bet you didn’t. Now that I think about it, Yojimbo may be my favorite Kurosawa movie of all time…

Now that I know that our library has gems like this, I’ve got a long list of Kurosawa movies to watch this semester!

- Harvey

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  • http://sevententotokyo.com billywest

    I bet a lot of people don’t even remember “Last Man Standing.” The original western adaptation of Yojimbo was the spaghetti western, “A Fistful of Dollars” (I think that’s the title) with Clint Eastwood. A good western for its day (so I’ve heard) but pretty bad in the face of the classic with Mifune, who is one of the all-time coolest tough guys.

    Did you see the remake of “Tsubaki Sanjuro” with Yuji Oda? I haven’t yet, but to imagine him in the role that Mifune made his own is just, well, … unthinkable.

  • http://theghostletters.blogspot.com/ freedomwv

    The best Japanese `western` I have seen has got to be `Sukiyaki Western Django.`

  • achikochi

    It is available on Netflix too fyi.

  • http://www.japannewbie.com Harvey

    billywest, I have actually never even seen Tsubaki Sanjuro with Mifune! However, I’m about to remedy that tonight. I loved Yojimbo, I’m really looking forward to Sanjuro! I’ll stay away from teh Sanjuro remake – thanks for the tip!

  • http://www.japannewbie.com Harvey

    I just saw Tsubaki Sanjuro. Wow. I want to watch Yojimbo again. Mifune is incredible.

  • Kingsley

    hmm…not too familiar with classic Japanese cinema, but i did grow up on those Tokyo mafia movies starring Ryuichi Takeuchi….and i’m sorta familiar with Takashi Miike’s sadistic/cult movies like Ichi the killer and so on…..i have an opportunity to watch Kurosawa’s “Dreams”, but I’m skeptical. It might not be a good film. Any input?

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Kingsley, I think I saw Dreams once a long time ago – and all I remember is that it was really really abstract. I’ll need to watch that again.

    I say if you have the opportunity to watch it, watch it! Even if you don’t like it I’m sure it will be worth it.

    I’ve got Kurosawa’s “one wonderful sunday” up next!

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