One of Akira Kurosawa's finest films
"One of the Ten Greatest Films of All Time" - Martin Scorsese
Many Kurosawa admirers regard this deeply moving, humanistic film as one of the director's greatest works, and it was among Kurosawa's own favourites. Ikiru is a subdued gendai-geki (contemporary film) from the same period as the celebrated historical dramas Rashomon and Seven Samurai. Here Kurosawa's regular actor Takashi Shimura plays Watanabe, a rigid and rule-driven bureaucrat in the public sector. When Watanabe learns that he has only a few months left to live, it dawns on him that he has not accomplished anything of significance in this world, and he decides to do something that can give his life meaning. «To Live» is the direct translation of the title.
Audio: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Age rating: 12

