Red Beard

One of the last "big" Kurosawa classics still on my list. Not surprisingly, one of his longer films too. It may be smaller in scope (no big battle scenes here), but the film is still epic in every imaginable way. I didn't think it very fitting for what is basically just a long, spun-out melodrama.

Noboru is a young doctor who thinks he is ready to take on his job. He finds a place to work, under the supervision of Akahige, an old and stern doctor who likes to run operations by his own, particular rules. The two don't see eye to eye, but the longer Noboru works there, the more he begins to understand what it means to be a doctor.

The performances are overly theatrical, the soundtrack was distracting, and the plot stretched far beyond its breaking point. I did like the framing somewhat, but that was hardly enough to get me through three hours of extreme melodrama. A pretty bad Kurosawa flick and another one unworthy of his reputation.