"Red Beard" is one of director Akira Kurosawa's best films. Interestingly, it is highly reminiscent of two of his other films--"Dodes'ka-den" and "The Quiet Duel". I could go into all the reasons why, but it's best that if you like "Red Beard" you also give these other films a try--you won't be disappointed.

The film is much like many of Kurosawa's films in that the importance of the peasant is the focus of the movie. The value of these people is strongly emphasized--despite a feudal society that saw them as expendable. Through the use of a haughty young doctor from a rich family who arrives at Red Beard's combination clinic/hospital, the director is able to show the nobility of the poor. The young man's opinions change towards these people he previously thought were beneath him as he is forced to make rounds in the hospital and surrounding community. Seeing men die, women getting operated on without anesthesia and the degradation of the poor has a strong effect on the young man--and the audience as well. Interestingly, however, despite Toshiro Mifune being the star, he is a shadowy figure through much of this film--appearing and disappearing for long stretches of the film. Instead, the film really is about this young doctor's journey and the effect the unorthodox Mifune has upon him.

Speaking of unorthodox, I loved some of Mifune's strange techniques to help the poor. In particular, I loved the great fight scene at brothel where he took on a gang of thugs to save one young girl as well as the way he occasionally used extortion on his rich patients in order to gain funds for his hospital! Great stuff--and well worth seeing because of the complex and rewarding plot. Exquisite.

I love Akira Kurasawa and his movies, and while not among his best like Seven Samurai, Ran, Throne of Blood, Hidden Fortress, Ikiru, Rashomon, Yojimbo and High and Low, it is an interesting film. Although it is for me too long with some scenes that plod a little too much, it looks gorgeous with Kurasawa's direction as subtle as ever and some great architecture and use of snow and wind. The music is hauntingly beautiful also, at its best in the first major death scene, and the story while not the most original or most accessible of Kurasawa's films continues to fascinate. Standout scenes, tense, full of humanity or whatnot, include the action scene, with a nice mix of humour and brilliant sound effects, the Mantis preying on Yasamoto, Sahachi's tale of his wife and the culmination in the well. Toshiru Mifune gives a very restrained performance and an effective one at that, while Yuzo Kayama as the young doctor and Koyoko Kagawa as the Mad woman among others match him in equally naturalistic performances. Overall, while not a movie for everybody I found it interesting and excellent. 8/10 Bethany Cox

RED BEARD marks the final collaboration between star Toshiro Mifune and director Akira Kurosawa and it's not a favourite of mine, as well made as it is. On the plus side, it has impeccable acting from the two leads, Mifune in particular, and a good political angle looking at social issues of poverty and healthcare that the director often explored. There are some incredibly emotional moments too that had me in tears. On the down side, it does feel very long-winded and slow, in need of a good editor. It held my attention for an hour and a half but an interminable flashback jinxed that.