Ningen Gokaku
1998 / 109m - Japan
Drama, Comedy
3.0*/5.0*
License to Live poster

Watches

May 17, 2004

3.0*/5.0*

Kurosawa mimics Kitano. This film reminded me a lot of Kitano's films, minus the Yakuza. But the stark editing, the mix of drama and comedy, and even some of the jokes seem to be taken directly from the infamous comedian's work. That's not a bad reference, though Kurosawa struggles to add something of value.

When Yukata wakes up from a coma, he finds his life in shambles. His memory's mostly gone, His father is on a trip, his family didn't stick together and the man who hit him with his car years ago tries to buy off his guilt. Yukata goes to live with a friend of his dad's, who is tending to his home. Slowly his former life comes back to him.

The film is off to a rocky start and the first 45 minutes or so feel like a real struggle. After that things get progressively better and Kurosawa starts to find his groove. It salvages the film, the final 20 minutes or so are pretty cool and original, but as a whole, it's not enough to make this a bona fide Japanese classic. Vintage Kurosawa in other words.