Kurosawa’s cinematic landmark reminds us of it’s lasting legacy
Seven Samurai is a landmark of cinema. Not just in evaluating it as a standalone feature, but in it’s impact and resonance throughout the medium. Akira Kurosawa has inspired scores of filmmakers and their works since the release of his masterwork in 1954. The story is familiar to all, thanks to it’s imprint on cinema, and inspirational qualities. A small village in feudal Japan is plagued by bandits. An elder named Gisaku (Kokuten Kōdō) convinces the people to hire some samurai to help repel their attacks and secure their safety. A team of seven unites, each with their own history, skills, and quirks, and endure these assaults to save the village.
Written by Kurosawa alongside Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni, this is the marriage of an action epic, with a story that dives into the history, culture, and conflict of 1600s Japan. An era in the grip of civil war. Factions rise, some fall, and in the background, bandits roam the countryside taking advantage of the weak and helpless. The first to be convinced to lend his blade to their cause is Kambei Shimada (Takashi Shimura), whose experience and status leads to other samurai joining his band, notably Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), who having risen from the peasant class, offers a bridge of sorts to the villagers. Necessity forges this alliance, but a it’s not as simple as good vs evil, as these two classes collide. Its more than privilege vs poverty, as to the villagers their saviors represent the very warring forces that have destabilized the land.
The legend and legacy of the Seven Samurai comes not just from heroic exploits, but from the craft behind the film. The technical aspects of Kurosawa’s approach are unsurpassed in every riff off this tale we’ve seen. From blocking to staging, the cuts, pacing all conjure up a dynamic flow, and immersion in the story. Production design showcases considered and detailed work, adding depth to a worlds that is given life by richly drawn and acted characters. Mifune is a microcosm of this, with a character that delivers elements of comic relief, but adds story and emotional weight with an impeccably layered performance. Tonally, it’s a perfect blend of irreverent humor, comedy, and violence. Kurosawa is not crafting an simple over the top actioner, but something deeper in construct, with an underlying message about the weariness of war and social strife. All these men, regardless of station, end up down in the dirt. It adds a lingering poignancy and underscores how influential the film has been for wave upon wave of filmmakers.
The Package
One of the most welcome aspects of the 4K platform is the wave of classic films getting a new lease of life and Seven Samurai doesn’t disappoint. Being rendered in black and white, the range of contrast is impressive, as is the inky depths of the blacks, and crispness of the whites. The backbone of the film is strong, and lends to a superb depth of image detail and clarity, which really lets the films visuals shine. Grain is naturally and consistent too. Overall it’s a stable and consistent image, but some of the wide shots of the countryside do look a little diffuse around the edges, likely due to the source material.
- One 4K UHD disc of the film and two Blu-rays with the film and legacy special features
- Two audio commentaries, one featuring film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns, and Donald Richie, and the other Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck: The first is interesting in spurts (largely in terms of insights into the films legacy), but a bit piecemeal as it’s stitched together from several different commentaries. The commentary with Jeck is incredibly well put together, taking in a wider look at Japanese cinema and culture, and also the resonance of Kurosawa’s feature on film in general
- Making-of documentary, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: Around 50 minutes, and a nicely comprehensive ‘making of’ that explores the inception, planning, filming, and release of the film. A great look at Kurosawa’s process
- My Life in Cinema (1993), a two-hour conversation between director Akira Kurosawa and filmmaker Nagisa Oshima: Two legendary figures of Japanese cinema talking film
- “Seven Samurai”: Origins and Influences, a documentary looking at the samurai traditions and films that helped shape Kurosawa’s masterpiece: Just under an hour in length, it draws from many notable film scholars (some on the commentary above) to open up understanding on the film, and the Japanese/Samurai culture at its core
- Trailers and teaser
- Gallery of rare posters, behind-the-scenes photos, and production stills:
- PLUS: Essays by Kenneth Turan, Peter Cowie, Philip Kemp, Peggy Chiao, Alain Silver, Stuart Galbraith IV, Arthur Penn, and Sidney Lumet, and an interview with actor Toshiro Mifune from 1993: An expansive booklet full of some notable essays and information on the 4K transfer/restoration
The Bottom Line
Often referenced, inspiring a wealth of filmmakers than came in it’s wake, but there is something so distinct about Kurosawa’s feature that sets it apart even after all this time. Seven Samurai is a landmark of cinema, and Criterion’s 4K treatment is a reverential affair, one that offers up some superb extras alongside a new 4K transfer that is the new benchmark for watching the film.
Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is available on 4K-UHD via Criterion now
