Sanshiro Sugata (Sugata Sanshirô)
Directed by Akira Kurasawa
Written by Akira Kurasawa from a novel by Tsuneo Tomita
1943/Japan
Tojo Company
First viewing/Hulu Plus
[box] I like unformed characters. This may be because, no matter how old I get, I am still unformed myself. — Akira Kurosawa[/box]
Although 17 minutes of Sanshiro Sugata was cut by Japan’s wartime government and subsequently lost, Kurosawa’s directorial debut contains ample evidence of his budding genius.
It is the late nineteenth century and the traditional jujitsu wrestling is being challenged by the newer judo style. Young Sanshiro Sugata presents himself as a student of a jujitsu master. But when the master and all of his disciples are easily defeated by judo master Yano, Sanshiro drops everything on the spot and follows him. Months pass and Sanshiro becomes strong enough to beat up several people in a street brawl. Disgusted, Yano tells him he knows nothing of life or humanity and dismisses him. Sanshiro throws himself into a canal and stays there all night clutching a pole. Yano still refuses to forgive him. Then Sanshiro looks at a lotus flower, understands its message, and begs forgiveness like a child. The master and student reconcile.
After Sanshiro kills a jujitsu opponent in a challenge match, the Westernized snakelike Higaki asks him for a fight. Sanshiro is prevented from accepting his challenge. He is next scheduled for an exhibition fight with the famous Murai (Takashi Shimura). Murai is getting old and Higaki assures him he cannot win. Murai’s daughter Sayo begins praying for her father. She is glimpsed by Yano and Sanshiro at the temple, both comment on her beautiful and sincere devotion. When Sanshiro gets to know Sayo, he finally finds out her relation to Murai and is left with a moral dilemma. The film concludes with an exquisitely shot fight between Sanshiro and Higaki in a field of tall grass.
The propaganda value of this piece is mainly contained in the match-up between the Victorian-dressed Higaki and the traditional, honorable, and pure Sanshiro but it is not overly blatant. The compositions could only have been done by a master. Already wind is being used to indicate turmoil. I am sure I would have gotten more out of this if I knew more about martial arts and Japanese culture or if the 17 minutes had not been cut. That said, I enjoyed the film quite a lot.
Just for fun
