Dreams (1990)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writer:

Akira Kurosawa (written by)

Release Date:

24 August 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

The past, present, and future. The thoughts and images of one man... for all men. One man's dreams... for every dreamer.

Plot:

A collection of tales based upon the actual dreams of director Akira Kurosawa.

Plot Keywords:

Crow | Death | Ghost | Painting | Japan

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Akira Terao	...	I
Mitsuko Baisho	...	Mother of 'I'
Toshie Negishi	...	Mother carrying child
Mieko Harada	...	The Snow Fairy
Mitsunori Isaki	...	'I' as a boy
Toshihiko Nakano	...	'I' as a young child
Yoshitaka Zushi	...	Pvt. Noguchi
Hisashi Igawa	...	Nuclear Plant Worker
Chosuke Ikariya	...	The crying demon
Chishu Ryu	...	Old Man
Martin Scorsese	...	Vincent Van Gogh
Masayuki Yui	...	Member of climbing team
Tessho Yamashita
Misato Tate
Catherine Cadou

Also Known As:

Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (USA) (alternative title)
Yume (Japan)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

Japanese | French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mother of 'I': You're staying home. The sun is shining but it's raining.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lost in Translation (2003)

Soundtrack:

In the Village

Living is exciting

Akira Kurosawa's insights on man's need to harmonize with nature, the costs of war and the bad fruits that nuclear power can bear. This is the first Kurosawa movie I have seen, but I can see how true it is that Kurosawa is a master of creating atmosphere in a film. Such as the dark, post-nuclear apocalyptic world of THE WEEPING DEMON. Or the very first episode when the little boy sees something he is not supposed to see in the forest.

I found THE BLIZZARD rather strange, and you'll see a scary part when the mountainman is having his mirage of the beautiful woman who symbolizes the snowstorm. I'm not sure what the significance of the dog was in THE TUNNEL, but I guess it illustrates the fact that though he was the commander of Third Platoon , he felt like a coward because of his command, his men paid the price.... yet he is guilty of still being alive; he's afraid of the dog.

It ends rather low key, but the last episode THE VILLAGE IN THE WATERMILLS is the most insightful and bold in expressing the movie's theme... of harmonizing with nature, and maybe harmonizing with ourselves.

The procession displays the unity and the communal harmony that the villagers have. And it is the exact opposite of what is grieved about in MOUNT FUJI IN RED or THE WEEPING DEMON. The cinematography is just beautiful. The movie is beautiful and captivating.

Akira Kurosawa's YUME is Grade A- 9/10