Ikiru ¹⁹⁵²

Watanabe has been working a monotonous office job for twenty years and has become estranged from his son. When he is told that he doesn't have much time left, he throws himself into the nightlife. Despite its sad premise, Ikiru is above all a celebration of life.

It is precisely as his life slowly seeps away that Watanabe discovers a renewed zest for life. Only at the very last moment does he realize the true meaning of existence. Akira Kurosawa makes a powerful appeal: live the life you have, appreciate the people around you, and realize that work or other superficial matters can never be the essence of life.

Thanks to Eye Filmmuseum, we can now enjoy a number of beautifully restored classics by Akira Kurosawa, in the series Akira Kurosawa in Focus. Kurosawa is regarded worldwide as one of the most influential directors in film history. His films are characterized by a visual style that transforms every shot into a painting. The power of his work was internationally praised and many arthouse directors call him one of their greatest sources of inspiration. His films were often remade in the West, but the original versions remain unmatched in both image and impact.