Ikiru (Criterion Collection) (1952) (2 Discs)

Thanks to Criterion for making this masterpiece available. Kurosawa's retelling of Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich is beautiful on every level. No other filmmaker has or had the talent to frame every shot perfectly, while keeping his subject matter deeply human. Kurosawa knew humanity, its quirks, weaknesses, regrets, follies, and most importantly, the heights to which it can soar. Ikiru tells the story of a many who does what proves to be nearly impossible in the lives of most. Upon learning he is to die of stomach cancer, he changes his life. He learns to Live. But as with any tale of enlightenment, of those who gain an inner clarity about themselves, and who live their lives guided by that clarity, in truth and goodness, the majority do not understand. Boris Mouravieff call it the Law of Exception. Like drops jumping from the stream, only a few on the surface ever leave the inexorable pull of dictates of culture. The ones that remain cannot fathom those who have become free. And so, as Kanji Watanabe becomes free, as he Lives and as his work produces fruit born of his Being, those who follow are unable to overcome the resistance of inertia and entropy. A deeply saddening, but equally uplifting film. Highly recommended.

I'm only 19 so perhaps some may say I can't really comment or fully understand all about living life to the full, because I have barely lived. But one thing this film makes you realise is that a job, is just a job! This film was so heartful and beautiful,it can make any age group realise that life is for living and how correct it was to say that 'only when you know you are going to die do you begin to live'..we should learn to live before that moment comes! I recommend this film for everyone, I love Japanese films and this was by far one of the best films.
It's an eye-opening film and one that should not be disregarded!

... for rating this one. I can't but than agree it might well be the most compelling film by Kurosawa. As well Criterion have to be hailed for bundling the most interesting 'Extras' I've ever seen on DVDs. But afterwards I couldn't help thinking why, after half a century since it was released, nobody realized that giving stomach cancer to civil servants and politicians might get them doing their work: and if even for a short while, at least tax-payers won't regret the money they're usually conned of. Since the bulk of most civil servants' work is waiting retirement, and almost all politicians think (???) they've been elected so they can be paid while preparing their next campaign, it would be worth giving it a try.