The conversation here has been heavy of late due to the circumstances in the world, so I wanted to recommend this picture because it made me feel so good when I watched it. Of all the films I have seen over the last couple years, this one has really stuck with me, and I think about it often. It's a bit off the beaten path but that should be expected probably if I am recommending it. It has entered the realm of my favorite films since seeing it the first time, which I think was about a year or so ago. It's not a new film, which also should probably be expected with me. Plus the last film I brought up here was The Zone of Interest and I seriously doubt that is a film that would cheer anybody up...but I thought if there was one guy I would call to go see it with, it would be David, and my bet would be we would have an amazing conversation when it was over...or a good cry depending on how hard it hits.

Anyway, this film also, I think, would be one David would enjoy because I know he likes Kurosawa and this is an Akira Kurosawa film but probably one of his least seen or heard of unless you are a big movie buff or giant Kurosawa fan. So, maybe David already knows this one. It has not been an easy one to see and it is not one of his pictures that people mention much if at all when they talk about Kurosawa. I only saw it recently because it was never one I could find, and the truth is I was trying to catch up on his other pictures. 

The film is Dersu Uzala from 1975 and it is not typical Kurosawa in my opinion. First off, it takes place in the Siberian wilderness following a group of Russian explorers that are mapping the area and making note of the flora and fauna. Early in their travels they meet a local hunter Dersu Uzala (who was a real person as this is based on a book written by Vladimir Arsenyev about his friendship with Dersu) and Captain Arsenyev asks him to be their guide. He agrees and so begins their adventures. 

Now, Andi, not sure how you would feel about this film, it could be seen as a "guy" film because it is about a bunch of guys surviving in the wilderness together and the main relationship is between two guys who become eternal friends, and some may label this a boy's adventure kind of tale but what can I say...I'm a guy. So, this hit me right in my soft spot.

It's also just a fantastic story about human beings, how we interact with each other and nature, and in many ways about the innate goodness in some...hopefully most...people. Basically, there is a lot of beauty in the story, both in the physical world and within the characters. It is a gentle story, for the most part, with many lessons about how we should treat our world and each other. So, in some ways it is very timely and a balm in these times where we are seeing the bad side of many people. 

I'll admit that this is a genre I really love, outdoor adventure films, and hey, this is stunningly shot by Kurosawa in glorious 70mm...so just a gorgeous film. It's very cool seeing Akira working outside of Japan with a cast of mostly Russians. The acting is also wonderful, particularly Maksim Munzuk who plays Dersu Uzala. I mean he just does not seem to be acting, it's like they just happened to find this guy wandering in a forest. Brilliant performance that just pulled me right into the middle of this story. 

I loved this film, really loved it. It was what watching a movie should be, it pulled me out of the world for a couple hours and dropped me in to this kinder gentler world with characters that I was completely wrapped up in. 

So, really, check this one out if you can find it. I assume it is streaming somewhere.