south-swell

Oh to see this in color and widescreen! I only recently came to appreciate "Japanese Noir". This tale of people and mountains goes to the top of my list. Who knew that "My Old Kentucky Home" would be so poignant in a foreign language film. If you are a student of the 20th century human condition, this film will enhance your life. So many movies today take us to a dark place where the creators are determined to expose us to the most extreme sadistic violence. This, then, is naturally followed by a spiraling violent response justified as revenge. Snow Trail, in Mifune's character, certainly doesn't lack for evil. But Kurosawa provides us with the redeeming opposite side of human character. That is the distinction between exploitation and art.