Ikiru

 Just finished watching this movie and what a profound movie. This is my first Akira Kurosawa movie and I was simply blown away by the movie. When I read the story I expected the movie to be a cliche about death and life.

The movie has so many layers or we can also say the movie can be looked as having six distinct parts.

The first part introduces us to the characters and the environment. This is a short part. We are shown the lead character, his job and the people around him. We might not think many items shown here will become important in the coming sections.

The second part is where the lead character learns about his intending fate. This is also a short one. But even in these short parts the director conveys so many subtle messages.

The third part is where the lead character tries to change his ways. There are two sub plots here. One where he tries the cliched stuff of trying to live his life by spending on drinks and women. We also feel this should be the whole message of the movie. But no I was wrong. The second subplot is about the lead character realises there is much more to life than spending on drinks and women.

The fourth one is where the lead character realises what is about living and we also feel this should be the core message and the movie would be over after this part.

But there comes the most important fifth part where they play out the message. This is like a conversation within ourselves. Whatever questions we would have asked critically, all of them are asked and answered. The answer is satisfactory.

Then we have the final sixth part which shows humans will never change.

Everything about the movie was top notch. We can also say India is still in this state. May be Japan overcame all the bureaucracy but I am not sure if we will change.