Rent Red Beard (1965)

4.1 of 5 from 108 ratings
2h 52min
Rent Red Beard (aka Akahige) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
Red Beard, the last and most ambitious of Kurosawa's collaborations with Toshiro Mifune, marks the end of one of the most remarkable actor-director relationships in the history of cinema. Toshiro Mifune plays a commanding but humane doctor in a rural clinic in late 19th-century Japan. An idle and socially ambitious intern (Yuzo Kayama) arrives at the clinic and discovers the meaning of responsibility, first to oneself and then to others. This intimate epic - and offbeat social drama - boldly mixes the styles of soap opera and the action movie, and rewards the viewer with a detailed reconstruction of a feudal era, a warmly humanitarian message and a powerhouse performance by Mifune.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Nobuo Chiba
Directors:
Producers:
Ryûzô Kikushima, Tomoyuki Tanaka
Writers:
Masato Ide, Hideo Oguni, Ryûzô Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Shûgorô Yamamoto
Aka:
Akahige
Studio:
BFI Video
Genres:
Classics, Drama
Collections:
Award Winners, Lions on the Lido, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Akira Kurosawa
Countries:
Japan
Awards:

1965 Venice Film Festival Best Actor

BBFC:
Release Date:
06/10/2003
Run Time:
172 minutes
Languages:
Japanese LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
B & W
Bonus:
  • Introduction by Alex Cox
  • Biographies of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune
  • Production stills

More like Red Beard

Reviews (2) of Red Beard

Another Master Film from Kurosawa & Co. - Red Beard review by JE

Spoiler Alert
24/06/2020

Moving, Humane, and an outstanding production all in all, what else to say?

Just to say that i give it 5 stars and that i would highly recommend it.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

Not just a Kurosawa film... - Red Beard review by griggs

Spoiler Alert
24/01/2025

Red Beard is not just a Kurosawa film, but it's also the most accessible one I’ve seen to date, making it a perfect entry point for those new to his work. And it’s utterly mesmerising. The story follows Dr Yasumoto, a young, arrogant physician reluctantly assigned to a rural clinic run by the gruff yet compassionate Dr Niide, better known as Red Beard.

Through Yasumoto’s eyes, we witness a series of tragic, deeply human, and often heartbreakingly raw vignettes of the patients in Red Beard’s care. These stories, with their profound emotional depth, grow increasingly poignant, culminating in one particularly devastating moment that left me reeling. It feels as though Kurosawa masterfully builds you up, only to break your heart and twist the knife just a little more.

Despite his commanding presence, Red Beard’s backstory remains mysterious. However, subtle hints suggest he arrived at the clinic much like Yasumoto.

The film features cameos from many icons of Japanese cinema’s golden age, with Chishu Ryu delivering a brief but profoundly moving appearance in the conclusion. These cameos not only add to the film's star power but also serve as a nod to the rich history of Japanese cinema, enriching the viewing experience for film enthusiasts.

Wim Wenders once said filmmakers wanting to capture rain or snow should study Kurosawa, and Red Beard shows why. The snow scenes, with their breathtaking beauty and raw, lifelike quality, evoke a sense of awe that feels almost magical.

While its three-hour runtime might seem indulgent, every moment is earned, and as such, this is a masterpiece I’ll revisit often and one I cannot recommend highly enough.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

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