Seven Samurai (1954) Review

 

Seven Samurai (1954)

The first foreign film on this page is none other than this Akira Kurosawa masterpiece, and also my first steps into his extensive catalogue.

Seven Samurai, set in 16th Century Japan, is about a rag tag group of samurais who are tasked to defend a farming village from bandits, leading to a legendary battle between the two sides.

Without this film, who knows what cinema would be like today. It’s absolutely groundbreaking for the time in so many ways. Kurosawa introduced the team-up concept here, while making a very real film, something western cinema had yet to really do in such a fashion. The characters are relatable, funny, emotional, and humble, making this epic so revolutionary. It’s cinematography and shot composition is gorgeous, the battle scenes are thrilling, and the culture accuracy in this period piece is astounding.
It’s got such a simple story, but it’s intertwined with complex side stories that flesh out all of the moving pieces in this film completely, especially in it’s astounding 3 and a half hour runtime. It’s a movie that holds up very well, even today, having gone on to inspire all the team-up flicks that followed.

The cast is impeccable, with the notable stand outs being longtime Kurosawa collaborator Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, and Seiji Miyaguchi. They add such contrasting personalities, but with each character leaving a lasting mark, with all being so fleshed out without needed backstory.

Seven Samurai is ultimately a tale of friendship and brotherhood. Here are these 7 random warriors,
all coming together to fight for and alongside people who can offer them nothing but honor. And as each samurai falls, their bond with one another and with these villagers only grows. It’s a beautiful story with so much heart and culture behind it, that while it’s a hefty watch all at once, is worth it it. The film is truly timeless, and Kurosawa’s ability to translate timeless tales into traditional Japanese stories is still relevant in our modern films over 65 years later.

9/10