The camera was positioned that way to indicate that we, the audience are the judges and it is up to us to decide whose story we want to believe. I like how the story was retold and interpreted on 3 levels. First, the bandit and the mistress recall the incident. Then, the story is retold by the woodcutter and the priest at the gate. Lastly, we get to interpret what the woodcutter tells us.
Praises aside, however, i was disappointed with this film and its take on the obscurity of truth. I know this is your 3rd favourite Kurosawa. It had an interesting story and certainly breathtaking camerawork, but the acting was over-the-top and overkill at times. They were yelling at the top of their voices most of the time, and it felt like a bad soap opera. Kurosawa should have opted for more subtle performances from his actors.
And then the terrible, terrible ending; the baby scene. What the hell? Deux ex machina, anyone? Why end with an upbeat ending when the film is about how men are inherent liars ...
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it's my 4th favorite after SEVEN SAMURAI, RAN, and THE HIDDEN FORTRESS.
Yes I agree it was an influential masterwork by a master director. I actually enjoyed the exaggerated acting, which I remembered reading was a hallmark of the Japanese Kabuki theater that Kurosawa wanted to depict.
I thought the "baby scene" at the end was sublime! It showed that even when Man can stoop so low as to lie in the face of truth, an innocent baby promises a glimpse of hope that could one day redeem Man.
I am sorry the ending did not work out for you. But at least you got to watch this key Kurosawa work. :)
I am going to try to explore the works of other Japanese directors such as Mizoguchi, Ichikawa, and Oshima. The only two Japanese directors I am very familiar with are Kurosawa and Ozu.
I don't know why but I thought IKIRU is severely overrated. That was my first impression. I am going to relook it again when I have the time. :/
Comments
Praises aside, however, i was disappointed with this film and its take on the obscurity of truth. I know this is your 3rd favourite Kurosawa. It had an interesting story and certainly breathtaking camerawork, but the acting was over-the-top and overkill at times. They were yelling at the top of their voices most of the time, and it felt like a bad soap opera. Kurosawa should have opted for more subtle performances from his actors.
And then the terrible, terrible ending; the baby scene. What the hell? Deux ex machina, anyone? Why end with an upbeat ending when the film is about how men are inherent liars ...
Yes I agree it was an influential masterwork by a master director. I actually enjoyed the exaggerated acting, which I remembered reading was a hallmark of the Japanese Kabuki theater that Kurosawa wanted to depict.
I thought the "baby scene" at the end was sublime! It showed that even when Man can stoop so low as to lie in the face of truth, an innocent baby promises a glimpse of hope that could one day redeem Man.
I am sorry the ending did not work out for you. But at least you got to watch this key Kurosawa work. :)
My top 5 favourite kurosawa films:
1. Ikiru
2. Seven Samurai
3. Ran
4. Throne Of Blood
5. Yojimbo
:)
I don't know why but I thought IKIRU is severely overrated. That was my first impression. I am going to relook it again when I have the time. :/