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IMDbPro

The Idiot

Original title: Hakuchi
  • 19511951
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
The Idiot (1951)
  • Drama
  • Romance
A Japanese veteran, driven partially mad from the war, travels to the snowy island of Hokkaido where he soon enters a love triangle with his best friend and a disgraced woman.A Japanese veteran, driven partially mad from the war, travels to the snowy island of Hokkaido where he soon enters a love triangle with his best friend and a disgraced woman.A Japanese veteran, driven partially mad from the war, travels to the snowy island of Hokkaido where he soon enters a love triangle with his best friend and a disgraced woman.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers
    • Fyodor Dostoevsky(novel "The Idiot")
    • Eijirô Hisaita
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Stars
    • Setsuko Hara
    • Masayuki Mori
    • Toshirô Mifune
Top credits
  • Director
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers
    • Fyodor Dostoevsky(novel "The Idiot")
    • Eijirô Hisaita
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Stars
    • Setsuko Hara
    • Masayuki Mori
    • Toshirô Mifune
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos77

    Setsuko Hara and Masayuki Mori in The Idiot (1951)
    Toshirô Mifune and Masayuki Mori in The Idiot (1951)
    The Idiot (1951)
    No Regrets for Our Youth (1946)
    The Idiot (1951)
    The Idiot (1951)
    Takashi Shimura in The Idiot (1951)
    The Idiot (1951)
    The Idiot (1951)
    Takashi Shimura in The Idiot (1951)
    The Idiot (1951)
    The Idiot (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Setsuko Hara
    Setsuko Hara
    • Taeko Nasuas Taeko Nasu
    Masayuki Mori
    Masayuki Mori
    • Kinji Kamedaas Kinji Kameda
    Toshirô Mifune
    Toshirô Mifune
    • Denkichi Akamaas Denkichi Akama
    Yoshiko Kuga
    Yoshiko Kuga
    • Ayakoas Ayako
    Takashi Shimura
    Takashi Shimura
    • Ono, Ayako's fatheras Ono, Ayako's father
    Chieko Higashiyama
    Chieko Higashiyama
    • Satoko, Ayako's motheras Satoko, Ayako's mother
    Eijirô Yanagi
    Eijirô Yanagi
    • Tohataas Tohata
    Minoru Chiaki
    Minoru Chiaki
    • Mutsuo Kayama, the secretaryas Mutsuo Kayama, the secretary
    Noriko Sengoku
    Noriko Sengoku
    • Takakoas Takako
    Kokuten Kôdô
    Kokuten Kôdô
    • Jumpeias Jumpei
    Bokuzen Hidari
    Bokuzen Hidari
    • Karubeas Karube
    Eiko Miyoshi
    Eiko Miyoshi
    • Madame Kayamaas Madame Kayama
    Chiyoko Fumiya
    • Norikoas Noriko
    Mitsuyo Akashi
    • Madame Akamaas Madame Akama
    Daisuke Inoue
    • Kaoruas Kaoru
    Jun Yokoyama
    Atsumi Nakama
    Kunio Miyogi
    • Director
      • Akira Kurosawa
    • Writers
      • Fyodor Dostoevsky(novel "The Idiot")
      • Eijirô Hisaita
      • Akira Kurosawa
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed as a two-part production running 265 minutes. Shochiku (the studio) told Akira Kurosawa that the film had to be cut in half, because it was too long; he told them, "In that case, better cut it lengthwise." The film was released truncated at 166 minutes.
    • Quotes

      Ayako: How did it feel when you were facing certain death?

      Kinji Kameda: Everyone in the world suddenly seemed so dear to me.

      Ayako: Everyone in the world?

      Kinji Kameda: Each and every person I'd ever known. Everyone I'd ever passed on the street. And not just people - the puppy I'd thrown a rock at as a child. Why hadn't I been kinder?

    • Connections
      Featured in Legends of World Cinema: Akira Kurosawa
    • Soundtracks
      In the Hall of the Mountain King
      (uncredited)

      From "Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46"

      Music by Edvard Grieg

    User reviews39

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Interesting Dostoevsky Translation
    This is a rather meandering tale which is hard to follow without a familiarity with the Dostoevsky novel. Armed with some understanding of the novel, this becomes an interesting translation. It's amazing to watch Kurosawa take its Russian roots and transfer it to Japanese culture. All in all, it's far from being one of his best. But like almost all of his work, it has moments which are fascinating. I would recommend it only to someone who is familiar with the novel or is trying to plow their way through it.
    helpful•7
    5
    • RodReels-2
    • Sep 29, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 30, 1963 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Der Idiot
    • Filming locations
      • Hokkaido, Japan
    • Production company
      • Shochiku
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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