The Morality of High & Low

[@racewiththefalcons1]

Mifune's acting in this film is fantastic. He had such a great range as an actor. This role and his character in Seven Samurai scarcely look like they were played by the same human being.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

He is one of the best actors of all time!

[@venkatasrikanth245]

Jack's Movie Reviews that's why Akira uses him in every goddamn movie

[@42kellys]

That is why he is one of the few who can be rightly called an ARTIST. He is not simply a brilliant actor, he is a consumate artist.

[@dungam9402]

I just like muroto hanbei

[@andreigeronez8383]

how can you forget about tatsuya nakadai? the man was good at his work, too!

[@EinerVonDenen]

Another statement I would disagree with is around 5:12, when you say that the detective has little regard for human life and that he wants to take the kidnapper off the streets and doesn't care why. I'm not sure what scenes made you read the movie that way. To me the detective stands for a very high moral and in his speech to all the other detectives makes clear that he believes they owe it to Gondo to find the kidnapper and have him go to prison for as long as possible (or even get the death sentence). He claims that Gondo has given up his whole life for that kid and it wouldn't be fair if the kidnapper would only get a couple of years behind bars. That makes the detective maybe the least complex character in the movie, his goals are straight forward as he represents a chance of morality after Gondo has already given up his faith in justice. Also, I believe he makes it his personal task to restore Gondo's faith in humanity and save Gondo's life. It's brilliant writing by Kurosawa that he manages to get the kidnapper for all his crimes but he still comes too late to safe Gondo. At the end he can only talk to him while all of his furniture is already being auctioned away. Kurosawa seems to raise the question: Even if the law succeeds, can it really bring true justice?

[@cherylm2C6671]

Perhaps it is that the police detective, seeing such behaviors daily, is negotiating between him-who-would-be-king and why-will-you-give/do-for it, and it seems to apply to both Kingo Gondo (the name suggesting that he, too, has antecedents in the mean streets) and the kidnapper. The kidnapper, having trained as a doctor, apparently has a very dirty past, and seems only to have become attached to the hospital he works in as a means to uphold and advance his own street power as a drug lord. I've only Richie's commentary and seen this snip, but it may be that the detective, from daily experience, was aware of the self-imagined nobility or paternalism the not-too-different characters have called to their attention. It may explain what was going through the kidnapper's mind when he decided to burn the suitcase from the highest chimney in the area.

[@MrRenatopepin]

I agree in part. I must say though he has not much appreciation for human life. He could easily arrest the kidnapper and get him off the streets, which should've been his priority specially knowing he killed those two adicts. But no, in the urge to fulfill he "sense of justice", he ends up basically killing another junkie just to frame the criminal. Its kinda insane how much the movie has so little regard to some people so much simpathy for a rich industrialist. I understand its all about the modern post war occupied japan and how capitalist logic presents some new ugly patterns in their society and how it agravates their "colectivism" code of conduct but idk, i was expecting something more from the killer's motives

[@endlessacrificedsons]

Probably my favorite Kurosawa film. A film of two halves, each wonderfully played out and equally gripping.

[@holymackerelthethird2478]

"It's no use Anakin, I have the high ground" - Akira Kurosawa, 1963

[@travisbickle3835]

this is literally a perfect film. kurosawa is a genius.

[@EinerVonDenen]

Thanks for this. However, I have to disagree with some of your analytic statements. For me this story is much more about the subjectivity of perspective and not as objective and straightforward as you make it sound. You say around 1:30, "According to the film, Gondo is already in heaven." That is true for those who envy him, however, a big plot point in the story is that Gondo himself doesn't find his own life that heavenly. The film starts with the other investors threatening him and Gondo plans to take over the company so that nobody can challenge him anymore. He is willing to risk all his money to reach the "almighty" position of being the boss of it all. In a way, Gondo wants to be a god himself - the god of his company. Only then, so he thinks, can he be happy. To me, he's a bit like Icarus who eventually flew too high into the sky and burned his wings. At the beginning of the film we don't see Gondo as a happy man but as one who believes he's also in some sort of hell. When at the end of the movie he asks the antagonist "Were you really so unfortunate?", one could claim that he's talking to his past self, to the one at the beginning of the movie. Kurosawa raises the question: Why can even those be unhappy and still not satisfied who live a life that others would kill for?

[@42kellys]

I like your views. I think you are saying something important here. I am not deeply involved with this film, because of its subject material, I hate the kidnapping and the crazy bitter student's game, so I find it too disturbing to be able to go deep into it. But I am glad to hear others' opinions and reviews and thoughts and feelings on it. Thank you.

[@stevemcgee99]

Set design and costume are awesome in this movie. So it music.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

It works in pretty much every aspect of good filmmaking

[@lordrazalas7441]

Great video! I just watched this and was blown away!

[@austinlangdon9847]

I think you are too sympathetic to Gondo. Without the presence of his wife or Aoki, Gondo would have sacrificed the Child. What distinguishes himself morally from the other characters besides his wife, is that the moral pressure eventually works. He was perfectly ready to let Kawanishi go to Osaka and use the money on shares. The only thing that stopped him was Aoki walking into the room. As long as he could ignore him, as he ignores all of the poor people who live below him, he can tolerate their suffering and the cruelty they endure. Until he makes the decision to pay the ransom, Gondos main motivation is in preserving his separation from those that live below him. Thats why the title "High and Low" is so important. Its his place high in the class structure that he values over the life of the child at first. Until he doesnt, thanks mostly to the fact that he is more compassionate than his associates but also to the moral influence of his wife and teh guilt he feels when he looks at Aoki and his own son.

[@scouts1998]

Great video, first one from the channel I have seen. I'll be sure to share it on. Also Kurosawa is one of my favorite directors but this is my favorite of his. Great analysis.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@OutwardFilmNetwork]

Love this film. Great review.

[@Overdue-Movies]

I miss your videos. thank you.

[@truefilm1556]

Just to say thanks for sharing your great insight and pointing out exciting thematic connections I would never have thought about! Being passionate about it, Kurosawa's cinematography (as you mention) is the first thing I personally notice. This great master had no problem going from the almost square Academy image to full widescreen and again setting new standards. His compositions, blocking, framing, camera work, lens choice, editing, you name it - remain a gold standard, a fantastic reference and look as pleasing and artful as ever. Cinema as we know it wouldn't be the same - on all levels.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you, Kurosawa is an undeniable master of the craft, this movie is a perfect example of that.

[@AndreFernandesMovies]

I only realised in the second half of the movie that the inspector is the same actor that plays the lead role in Harakiri. Nice analysis btw

[@nedd.8479]

That actor's in loads of iconic Japanese films - The Face Of Another, Ran, The Human Condition trilogy, Kwaidan, etc.

[@guilhermeferraz9954]

His name is Tatsuya Nakadai, one of the best actors of all time.

[@seanthomason8966]

Your analysis is in-depth and able to make me watch movies I am familiar with in a new way and with new vigor. If I had more than a few hundred dollars to my name I would adamantly support you on whatever platform available, alas that is not the case. So I shall wish you the best of luck in your growth, an continue to come back each week for videos that I have come to look forward to. Keep up the great work and God bless.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Much appreciated! Right now I'm not doing this for money, the best way to support me is sharing the videos and getting the word out there!

[@hebneh]

The lead character is the head of the National Shoe Company. That's irrelevant, but I happen to remember it. Also that the getaway car is a Toyopet Crown (which is what Toyota cars were called then.)

[@aadityabhattacharya]

love ur analysis , I will check to out

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Awesome, I hope you enjoy!

[@aadityabhattacharya]

Jack's Movie Reviews I recently watched Silence By scorcese amd I found many reference to Kurosawa, which I enjoyed, do u feel the same

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Aaditya Bhattacharya Undeniably there were a lot of references, I loved the movie!

[@aadityabhattacharya]

Jack's Movie Reviews I loved ot too it's a shame that it wasn't nominated and hidden figures is

[@JacksMovieReviews]

+Aaditya Bhattacharya There were some questionable movies that got nominated, Hacksaw Ridge (I can't speak for Lion or Hidden Figures) I'm sure they're good movies, but Silence is a great movie.

[@Dmdmello]

this film is so criminally underrated it hurts

[@gangsta8929]

Great video!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thanks Michael!

[@tbynlogan]

After watching the movie and seeing the screen wipes, one of the things on my mind is now a crime show taking place in Star Wars. An intergalactic kidnapping occurs and the police have to track down the criminal. They have to triangulate the planets using the map of the Star Wars galaxy. There's already "spice" in Star Wars, and maybe they could revisit Kessel.

[@KA-pe6sv]

It’s very Dostoyevskyian

[@Talal_111]

Following this movie with Arrival, talk about high and low

[@Bill-zp2mt]

Amazing Content! I recommend changing the title of your channel tho, You are far above generic, simple, movie reviews. :D

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you! I'm not sure if I will change my channel name, I got my start here doing those generic and simple movie reviews. I've moved on since then, but am going to keep the name for old times sake!

[@shahrozemalik9439]

Where can I watch this film?

[@fausteezy562]

Another great view. You should do a review of Nicolas Refn's Drive

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I've been thinking a lot about covering that movie. The "problem" with it is that a LOT of analysis is always out there, and I would like to find a new angle to talk about it from. It's a possibility and on my "want to cover list" but we'll see how it an fit in.

[@icekiller1594]

"or by today's standards 1300 USD" *immediately goes to check how much it is 7 years after this video was uploaded" mfw when 126 dollars holy fuck

[@LionkillerArt]

I have seen this great film a number of times and I have always felt that Kurosawa may have been at least a little inspired by the French New Wave happening at the time. I don't think it is so much FNW visually as it is in theme and structure. Anyone else get that feeling?

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I always took it as much more film noir in terms of visuals an thematically, but that is just me.

[@truefilm1556]

Well I think I have an idea where you are coming from. It is very likely the look and feel (both visual and thematically) of the time period (early 1960s), a non-American feel - and the black and white film stock. The French New Wave, as we know, was all about breaking the rules on purpose (a combination of European youth culture, trying out new things with (then) new film technology such as lighter hand held cameras and working around budget restraints). Of course Kurosawa was well aware of the FNW since he had a huge reference pool. IMHO he combines traditional Japanese culture with an American approach, coming up with something new and groundbreaking in the process.

[@tuckpoint0]

The take on the inspector is just entirely wrong, he doesn’t explicitly push Gondo to pay the ransom, but his first focus is to bring the child back safely as dictated by the chief inspector

[@lolcomicxyz9761]

how can I get full movie pls pls pls

[@JacksMovieReviews]

It's on iTunes

[@dane9027]

Itunes, or if you want to fork out money for the Criterion Channel, that's a good platform for many classic films as well.

[@murugavel.r6670]

love your videos, can you make a video on American history X?

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Thank you! I'm not sure about American History X, I think it is a great movie, but I don't feel like there is any subtext to it, I wouldn't say that its themes are subtle, and would be a 30 second video. That's just how I remember the movie, I haven't seen it in a few years.

[@grey_f98]

Kurosawa is known for the humanity he displays in his film, and this one is a good example of it, almost. I say almost because while the humanity of Gondo is shown in full display, Kurosawa sort of lets us down elsewhere. Particularly with the police, who I felt in this film acted as the guard dogs of the rich. The scene where they got together with the media to publish a false story to lure in the kidnapper, and also wrote a hit piece on the company that fired Gondo, it was kind of tone deaf given how corrupt and sensationalist the media is these days. Meanwhile the police could have caught the kidnapper immediately and given him 15 years, but they wanted to catch him in the act of murder so they could hang him, why? Because of justice for the two junkies he killed? No, because they wanted to bring retribution for the socially beloved Gondo. And this act resulted in a third junkie being killed. But the police is apathetic, to them Gondo's feelings are more important than the lives of three drug users. The humanity displayed in Gondo is altogether missing in the film when it came to caring about the lives of the people discarded by society. And I don't think that was Kurosawa's intention (we see Gondo derive no pleasure from the kidnapper being punished with capital punishment), but it's the only thing that's preventing this film from being a true demonstration of outmost sincere moral humanity. I do wonder what Kurosawa's stance was on capital punishment and the homeless, whether he thought they deserved it for not being better or working harder, or if he thought society should end those things.

[@travisbickle3835]

yeah i think it's kurosawa's critisim of poşice

[@zombywoof1072]

There's something huge that you're missing. Gondo is a burakumin. Most people outside of Japan don't know that there is an untouchable caste in Japan with a status that was traditionally as low as the untouchables in India. This ups the ante tremendously. First he's beaten the system in a way that's perhaps without precedent at the time. Second any criticism he will incur will be supercharged because it will just reinforce the social expectations and people will be disgusted by him.

[@BeachsideHank]

A brilliant realization and definitely a plot factor. Only Kurosawa could have subtly woven that in, it is still a touchy subject even today as the vast numbers of burakumin continue to live in ghetto-like communities throughout Japan, and many are still relegated to unskilled and poorly paid occupations. Identification as a burakumin is often sufficient to prevent or void participation in a marriage, a contract, or employment in any non-burakumin occupation.

[@42kellys]

Thank you for your review I appreciate it. I am not too knowledgable on this particualr film becuse I find it too disturbing to go into it too deeply. Kidnapping and a bitter student playing othr people's life is just too much for me. But, I have to agree with a commenter here who said that Gondo is not at all in any way in heaven at the beginning of the film. In fact, he is facing a difficult dilemma that he is working on to solve and that takes considerable risk. On the other hand the morality issuse you brought up and contrasted the old and the new Japan was extremely interesting and made me think. Thank you. I appreciate your review.

[@0000syuable]

私は、これは私の個人的な感想です、「三船敏郎」はあまり芝居の上手い役者じゃ無かったと思うのですね。 で、です。 しかし「存在感」はとてつもなく高い。いや異常なほど高い。 黒澤明は「芝居が上手い」役者よりも「存在感のある」役者を好んだのではないでしょうか？ 例えば、「東野英治郎」やら「小林桂樹」らは、もっと自分の作品に使っていたと思うのです。 「芝居が上手い」よりも「存在感のある」役者が好き。 どうでしょうか？

[@HenryCasillas]

❄️

[@filipenelson3494]

High & low the worst fiight😎