Seven Samurai (1954)

Original Title

七人の侍 Shichinin no Samurai

Genres

Adventure, Drama

Director

Akira Kurosawa

Country

Japan

Cast

Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Daisuke Kato, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Isao Kimura, Toshiro Mifune, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Bokuzen Hidari, Yukiko Shimazaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Keiro Tsushima, Kokuten Kodo, Atsushi Watanabe

Storyline

In 16th century Japan, the farmers of a poor village seek the help of seven Samurai in order to fight the bandits that steal their harvests.

Opinion

I've been meaning to watch Seven Samurai for a very long time but I couldn't find the strength to watch an almost three and a half hours long film, a Japanese speaking almost three and a half hours long film to be exact. But I've heard it's a must-see so I made the effort and it was a great experience.

With a very simple, straight-forward story, Kurosawa beautifully portrayed two cultures of Japan, farmers and Samurai, which are very different one from the other, and that eventually come together to defend the values of their nation, a Japan deeply torn apart by civil wars. And he did that extremely slowly, but this way it's easier to get to know the characters and care for them.

Which brings me to the next point, the characters. They are brilliant and memorable. The development is truly astonishing. I can't believe how well-rounded each farmer is. And I also loved that each Samurai embodies an aspect of the Japanese culture and morale. Definitely worth of a mention is the cast with seven flawless performances from the seven actors playing the Samurais.

Seven Samurai is, unfortunately, the Japanese version of Orson Welles's Citizen Kane, meaning that probably a lot of people will find it boring and unbearable. In Kurosawa's film though there are some spectacular action sequences that will make things a little less boring and definitely more exciting for you if you are a Citizen Kane hater.