Madadayo details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Tatsuo Matsumura, Kydko Kagawa, Hisashi Igawa, Joji Tokoro |
| Director: | Akira Kurosawa |
| Genre: | World Cinema - Japanese |
| Studio: | YUME PICTURES |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Madadayo |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 2 hours 14 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 24 Sep 2007 |
| Main languages: | Japanese |
| Subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
Kurosawa's fond farewell
By Savage (632 reviews) from London, England , 16 Oct 2007[Highly rated reviewer]
Kurosawa's final film is probably the best of his post-'Ran' trio (not saying much, you might think). It tells the true story of a beloved German teacher at a small urban school who discovers, upon taking early retirement to concentrate on writing books (upon which the screenplay is based), that his kindness and decency to his students over the years is repaid tenfold, as he is looked after and feted all the years of his life. You don't get many films about qualities like decency and gentleness - it's difficult to pull off without being condescending towards an audience - but Kurosawa's heartfelt plea for understanding weaves a telling spell.
Be warned, though: it's also punishingly long (two and a quarter hours), given that nothing happens beyond a cat going missing; and it's indulgently sentimental (especially in its treatment of that cat). You know that the writer-director hopes to see something of himself in his protagonist, and, given the art he has bestowed on the world, perhaps we can forgive him that.- Was this review helpful to you?
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All reviews
(6)Moving and subtle
By Nostromogirl (1 review) from Basingstoke , 07 Oct 2010I personally enjoyed Kurosawa's final effort. I have seen the film twice in the last ten years, as I have a soft spot for this sensitive professor. The portrayal of the passing of time has stayed with me all. There shall never be another one like you, Akira.- Was this review helpful to you?
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A sad postscript
By a customer from Sussex , 15 Aug 2010It is sad that the great Akira Kurosawa's last film should be as undistinguished as this meandering Japanese version of a 'Goodbye Mr Chips'/'Good Morning Miss Dove' sort of story. The story stretches (interminably) over 17 years of the teacher's post-retirement life, and we never get to see exactly why he was so revered as a German teacher. As he appears to Western eyes either boorish or maudlin, the audience's sympathies are hardly involved, especially as the more sycophantic tendencies of the Japanese character are reflected in the various reunion scenes.
You do get to see a couple of nice cats, but...
Kurosawa was one of the giants of cinema, along with Bergman and Fellini; he did make the occasional dud ('Dodeskaden',etc) but best to remember him as the director of 'The Seven Samurai', 'Kagemusha' and the magisterial 'Ran', rather than this poor effort.- Was this review helpful to you?
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This film is seriously boring
By a customer from London , 30 Jan 2010There are a lot of reasons why I was expecting to like this film: I've lived in Japan for three years and have a strong interest in Japanese culture; I've liked others of Kurosawa's films; the warm critical reception. But. This film is seriously boring. That's two hours of my life I won't get back, and my husband has forbidden me from adding any more titles to our queue. So, your call.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Slow going but worth it.
By a customer from Axminster , 17 Sep 2008If you really want a change from the usual blockbusters then this gentle film will give you something to think about.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
Kurosawa's fond farewell
By Savage (632 reviews) from London, England , 16 Oct 2007[Highly rated reviewer]
Kurosawa's final film is probably the best of his post-'Ran' trio (not saying much, you might think). It tells the true story of a beloved German teacher at a small urban school who discovers, upon taking early retirement to concentrate on writing books (upon which the screenplay is based), that his kindness and decency to his students over the years is repaid tenfold, as he is looked after and feted all the years of his life. You don't get many films about qualities like decency and gentleness - it's difficult to pull off without being condescending towards an audience - but Kurosawa's heartfelt plea for understanding weaves a telling spell.
Be warned, though: it's also punishingly long (two and a quarter hours), given that nothing happens beyond a cat going missing; and it's indulgently sentimental (especially in its treatment of that cat). You know that the writer-director hopes to see something of himself in his protagonist, and, given the art he has bestowed on the world, perhaps we can forgive him that.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (15) Yes |
- No (3)
