Watches
March 12, 2010
One of Kurosawa's least accessible films, but a boon for those who appreciate the nihilist cinema that flourished around the turn of the century. Not that I'm fully vibing with the film's themes and messages, but I did appreciate the atmosphere Kurosawa managed to establish. This one is for the true arthouse heads though, make no mistake.
A musician and postal worker fall in love with each other. They plan to marry and start a family together. After that, their lives grind to a halt and it seems they have little interest in becoming actual adults. When a strange pollen hits Tokyo, they volunteer to join a test program that may provide a cure and save the rest of the population.
Or so the plot I found online goes, as I had quite some trouble piecing everything together while watching. There isn't much dialogue, the characters are extremely introverted and the pacing is slow. And while I would've appreciated a more polished stylistic approach, Kurosawa does manage to create a very strong and solemn atmosphere that pulled me into the film. Not an easy film to recommend, but I did like it a lot.