SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Starring: Takashi Shimura, Toshiro Mifune
Genre: Action/Samurai
Running Time: 203mins

Rating:

After falling foul of another attack on their harvest by marauding bandits, a group of farmers set off into a nearby town with the view to hiring a band of Samurai to act as protectors of their land. Headed by the experienced Kambei Shimada (Shimura) he enlists the help of 6 other Ronin bonded by their code of ethics and honour to help the farmers stand up and fight to maintain their land and habitat.

It's taken some time to get round to reviewing this film, whether that's because of laziness on my part, or of a fear of screwing up such an important film I'll leave that to your own opinion. But there's no denying that Seven Samurai is not only one of the greatest Japanese films of all time, but also quite possibly one of the greatest films worldwide. Never have the terms 'epic' and 'masterpiece' been more fitting.

What is it though that makes Kurosawa's film so remarkable a cinematic experience? One element of its success, in the worldwide market, was largely due to its westernised story (Kurosawa was a big fan of John Ford's westerns) fused with the traditional elements of Japanese culture. It's no surprise then that the transition from Samurai to Western (in the 1960 remake "The Magnificent Seven") was such an easy task. Much like the lonely plains of unchartered American landscape, the village in Kurosawa's opus too is vast and isolatory. Kurosawa had struck the perfect balance between cultural identity and universality; this garnered a much more assured international success.

Of much more critical importance is with which each of the principal cast members grow throughout the film. The masterful characterisation of all concerned is skilfully bled out as the film progresses; each with their own fascinating backgrounds that eek out at a perfect pace - the growth and change is exemplary in terms of audience acceptance.

Headlining the cast are the polar opposites of Toshiro Mifune as 'Kikuchiyo' and Takashi Shimura as 'Kambei Shimada'. While Shimada is presented as a composed, experienced warrior of high regard, Mifune's Kikuchiyo revels as the outlandish, wildly unpredictable novice masking his fear and inability with a rage of determination. It is the perfect counterbalance, and while some argue that Mifune steals the show, I disagree, as frenetically exuberant as he is throughout Seven Samurai he is a part of an ensemble. Much like the framework for their group within the film - alone they would be lost, but as a team they are exceptional.

This however, is not detrimental of Mifunes performance - he is a force to be reckoned with. As savagely wild as he is, he has instilled within this beast of a character a lot of humour, understanding and more importantly compassion. The revelation of his upbringing is a genuinely emotional experience, and to carry it through the maniacally charged performance is a wonderful showcase of his talents. Mifune was one of the most physically expressive actors to have graced the silver screen.

Furthermore from the vast scope of its scripting and precise performances of the cast, there is no escaping that the technical work on display was for its time innovative and even now exhilarating in terms of both sight and sound. There are numerous sequences in the film that demand recognition and remembrance. Kurosawa's philosophy of every frame should be a painting is particularly true in this film with so many stand out sequences that it almost feels impossible to pick one, only to leave so many behind.

However, for sheer mastery of atmosphere, intensity, editing and composition the duel between the master swordsman Kyuzo and a hot headed Samurai is by my consideration the best. Mixing wide shots of the duel with the close ups of spectators we observe the reality of death in a sense of pseudo-realism. Kurosawa, ironically, achieves this by employing such stylised cinematic techniques as slow-motion and silence; and while we are aware of its incredible style, we still remain rooted within a real time structure where the reality of pain and horror is not lost.

Also of particular note for technical excellence is the epic, grandeur of the closing battles. No review it seems can be complete without commenting on them. And there is a reason why this is the case. They are truly magnificent, fearlessly composed and choreographed sequences filled with the pre-requisite of excitement but also emotionally engaging and strategically fascinating. Surrounded by the downpour of rain, knee deep in the thick of the mud, the horrifying soundless piercing of every sword and spear through flesh is captured in a cold brutality. This is battle.

With the village structure much like a film studio Kurosawa is able to film from every conceivable angle, and boy does he make the most of this gift. Observing from the rooftops; through the slats of windows; charging through the thick sludge as a fallen rider is dragged by his horse, the pacing is frenetic, the imagery beautifully chaotic instilling a sense of fear and mortality until long after these scenes of warfare have come to rest.

Kurosawa's film is a magnificent epic of incredible scope and power. Masterful in its storytelling, anyone who wants to learn the artistry of cinema needs to see this film, everyone for that matter - needs to see this film. With its overwhelming themes of loyalty, honour and community mixed with the note perfect performances of both cast and crew, Seven Samurai is indeed deserving of its title as one of the greatest films ever made.