Ikimono no Kiroku (1955)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 103 minuten
Alternative titles: I Live in Fear / I Live in Fear: Record of a Living Being / 生きものの記録
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Akira Kurosawa
Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura and Minoru Chiaki
IMDb score:
7,3 (6.104)
Releasedate: 22 November 1955
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Ikimono no Kiroku plot
Kiichi Nakajima is so scared and obsessed with the idea of nuclear destruction that his family decides to have him declared non-responsible. Nakajima's deepest wish is that his family will follow him in the escape from Japan to the relative safety of South America. Harada, a volunteer social worker, sympathizes with Nakajima's convictions, but the old man's irrational behavior means the court doesn't take his fears seriously.
Actors and actresses
Kiichi Nakajima
Domestic Court Counselor Dr. Harada
Jiro Nakajima
Yamazaki, Yoshi's husband
Toyo Nakajima
Sue Nakajima
Yoshi Nakajima
Kimie Nakajima
Asako Kuribayashi
Ryoichi Sayama
Reviews & comments
Koert
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- 251 messages
- 2672 votes
This relatively unknown Kurosawa managed to surprise me positively!
Although it is no longer too current, I found the atomic boom, and the fear of it, very interesting as a subject. Moreover, this premise is developed in a unique way in I Live in Fear.
Mifune really is at home in all markets, as it turns out here. He portrays the paranoid Kiichi Nakajima fantastically. Definitely a special character. At the beginning of the film it is clear that the old Nakajima has a great fear of the atomic bomb. That fear , however, continues to develop and ultimately ensures that he goes down with little honor. I thought the scene where that comes out was a great ending. Also nice that the film starts and ends with the old, trusted Takashi Shimura. That man continues to have a signature head that always gets it right.
I Live in Fear knows for me the ingredients that make this political family drama a pleasure to watch: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, a perfect running time and an interesting premise. The only downside is perhaps that I can't recall very many exceptionally beautifully shot scenes. However, the final scene makes up for it. 4.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Spetie
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- 38871 messages
- 8251 votes
A good Kurosawa, who doesn't compare to his better films, but the man has so much class that even a slightly lesser film of his is still an above average film. There are very few directors to whom I can say that.
A nice subject here, which must have played in the minds of some Japanese people at the time, because if an atomic bomb has been dropped on your country, you can be quite frightened by it. Toshirô Mifune once again plays the leading role, but I found this time a little less convincing. Takashi Shimura is again very good, but has a slightly smaller role.
The development of the main character is well conveyed. I sometimes found the family relationships a bit behind and those are just those points that sometimes made the whole thing just a little less for me than usual. Well and very strong last fifteen minutes by the way, with a beautiful ending.
If you like Kurosawa's films, you should definitely try this one, I would say.
3.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 14602 messages
- 4554 votes
More a film of the head than of the heart. On one end of the spectrum to deal with the atomic bombs (Japan is still the only country against which that bomb was used) you have Godzilla, on the other end this I Live in Fear. A small film, clearly aimed at the ordinary Japanese and how they deal with fear. With fear and flight, or fear and reason and just stay. There is something to be said for both. In any case, those ideas are coming along reasonably well. Just like the battle between father and children, which is first about love and concern, but ultimately about money. Visually nice with sometimes excellent images (such a shot in deep focus with a young woman in front or beautiful striking rotating camera movements or those two last shots).
But as a drama, the film works a lot less. Especially by putting Mifune in a role like this. As an old man I don't even think he's bad, partly because of the good make-up. But his looks are rather simplistic and he's a mediocre actor in this area anyway (I'd rather see him in another role, something he can do well). This makes this part of the film very thin, while that should be the heart. I actually never really believed Mifune in his thoughts and then it quickly ends. Shimura is a lot better then. The good points dominate and the pace is fine, so still a sufficient, but the least Kurosawa I've seen so far. 3.0*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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