The film's black and white morality play, set in an almost junior high school venereal disease film setting, inspires some unexpected laughs, such as when a boy, suffering from an appendicitis, is told he needs to pass gas before he will know if the operation is successful. The boy asks what passing gas means, and others tell him it means to fart. Later, his whole room cheers when he farts. Such antics are obvious nods to the familial comedies of Yasujiro Ozu. The film's title is an obvious play off the duel between the two sides of Kyoji- his lustful selfish side, and his noble, selfless one, although, in watching the film, the title could equally apply to the film's most compelling character, Minegishi, one of the more interesting female characters in the Kurosawa canon (Sengoku's performance is actually the best in the film). She too battles her immaturity and selfish impulses to become a better person. By film's end, it is apparent that her better side has won. So, too, has the better side of Kyoji. The Quiet Duel is an interesting film with good moments, from a great artist. It's not the sort of film that will stay with you for a long time, but it one that you should spend a brief time with.
Review of The Quiet Duel
