High and Low

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Yutaka Sada, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kyoko Kagawa, Tatsya Mihashi, Jenjiro Ishiyama, Takeshi Kato, Takashi Shimura, Jun Tazaki, Tsutomu Yamazaki
Directed by: Akira Kurosawa
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
1963

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A business executive (Toshiro Mifune) is dealt an impossible scenario when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped and he's asked to pay the ransom- which would bankrupt him.

Review:

Tim: I wasn't sure how I'd feel about High and Low- there was a lot of trust in the great Akira Kurosawa, but this felt like such a departure from the many period pieces I'd been used to seeing from him. This contemporary (at the time) movie felt like a large change of pace. As the film progressed, though, I saw brilliance wherever I looked. This is an exquisitely crafted police procedural that is high on drama. It's the kind of film that shows Kurosawa's genius wasn't limited to one genre of film. He delivers an absolute classic in this terrific film.

The movie is absolutely a slow boil- it's 2 hours and 23 minutes and it uses every minute of that long run time. The film can be painstaking at times- it's focused on getting all the details right. I do find this approach fascinating when it's applied to police work. Side note- it's why I find Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander books so compelling as well. We really get into the investigation here. It's not rushed, Kurosawa gives it plenty of time to breathe. Along the way, there's a lot of character development. The movie has this terrific balance of highlighting the human emotions involved in a terrible situation like this, contrasted with the cold and calculated police work, following the procedure, collecting evidence, slowly tightening the lease around the perpetrators. It's this excellent dichotomy between the hot human emotions and the cold, logical investigation that really helps set this movie apart.

It helps that longtime Kurosawa collaborator Toshiro Mifune gives a great lead performance. As the businessman at the center of this situation, I definitely felt for his character. Think about the range of emotions he experiences throughout this film. At first, he's driven by greed and powerful, inches away from realizing a years-long dream. He's gambled everything in his life on a business move- on the eve of realizing those dreams, he's ebullient, filled with pride. Then, he gets a call that his son has been kidnapped- the most devastating, frightening, soul-destroying moment of a parents' life. Everything is put into perspective. Then, he is faced with shocking hope and relief- his son wasn't kidnapped after all! The joy is almost beyond description. Then, he's brought back to reality as he learns it was his chauffeur's son who was mistakenly kidnapped in his place. Now the emotions become clouded. How happy can you be when your own son is safe, but at the expense of his friend, your subordinate's life shattered in your place? The mixed emotions here would nearly tear anyone apart. And then, the fateful, impossible choice- you are asked to pay the ransom, to sacrifice your entire career, your financial future, to save the life of a child not your own? It may seem like an easy choice to us, but the movie does a fantastic job of setting the stage so you know the agony this character feels. Toshiro Mifune is an exceptionally gifted actor and leans into all these emotions. It's wonderful drama for us to watch. What he conveys with his eyes is simply astounding to witness.

The supporting cast works well, too. Tatsuya Nakadai is a standout as the chief inspector, the man in charge of the case. His demeanor, his approach is so different than Mifune's, and the contrast is incredible to see. There's a lot going on with this character and Nakadai shows us that through his terrific performance. Yutaka Sada adds some nice work as the devastated chauffeur. Tatsuya Mihashi is memorable in his strong supporting role as the executive's secretary. Tsutomu Yamazaki is unforgettable in several superb sequences. Kyōko Kagawa doesn't quite get enough to do, but she was instrumental to the film working as well as it did. It was so much to see her square off against Mifune.

The other reason I'd consider this movie so great is that Kurosawa crafts an absolute masterclass of filmmaking. The way he guides our emotions along with the story, the twists and turns- what is revealed vs what is kept hidden. The cinematography is outstanding- the view of the rich man's house up on the hill is especially memorable. The train sequence is a standout- a scene where the intensity is ratcheted up to an "11". That's an example of the greatness of Kurosawa- he takes a scene that could have been good and transforms it into something truly outstanding. The conclusion of the film is incredibly memorable and chilling in its own way.

High and Low is one of the great police procedural films out there. It's a landmark film whose influence is still felt today. It's an example that greatness can come in any form in the movies- if you deliver exceptional quality, tap into human emotions, create a compelling viewing experience, a film can last forever. This is yet another excellent movie from Kurosawa, one of the all-time great directors.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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