A bureaucrat tries to find a meaning in his life after he discovers he has terminal cancer.
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Title: Ikiru (1952)
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Top Rated Movies #111
|
Nominated for
1
BAFTA Film Award.
Another
5 wins & 1 nomination.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Takashi Shimura | ... | Kanji Watanabe | |
| Shin'ichi Himori | ... | Kimura | |
| Haruo Tanaka | ... | Sakai | |
| Minoru Chiaki | ... | Noguchi | |
| Miki Odagiri | ... | Toyo Odagiri, employee | |
| Bokuzen Hidari | ... | Ohara | |
 |
Minosuke Yamada | ... | Subordinate Clerk Saito |
| Kamatari Fujiwara | ... | Sub-Section Chief Ono | |
|
|
Makoto Kobori | ... | Kiichi Watanabe, Kanji's Brother |
| Nobuo Kaneko | ... | Mitsuo Watanabe, Kanji's son | |
| Nobuo Nakamura | ... | Deputy Mayor | |
|
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Atsushi Watanabe | ... | Patient |
|
|
Isao Kimura | ... | Intern |
|
|
Masao Shimizu | ... | Doctor |
| Yûnosuke Itô | ... | Novelist | |
Learn more
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Kanji Watanabe is a civil servant. He has worked in the same department for 30 years. His life is pretty boring and monotonous, though he once used to have passion and drive. Then one day he discovers that he has stomach cancer and has less than a year to live. After the initial depression he sets about living for the first time in over 20 years. Then he realises that his limited time left is not just for living life to the full but to leave something meaningful behind... Written by grantss
Taglines:
Frivolous human beings who only contemplate the meaning of life when suddenly faced with death. See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
Music by Vincent Scotto
Lyrics by Georges Koger and Henri Varna
Performed by Josephine Baker
When entering in the bar with the long-faced man
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Hideo Oguni, one of the three main writers, originally envisioned Takashi Shimura's character as being a yakuza (gangster) as opposed to a government bureaucrat. See more »Goofs
In the last scene with Toyo (in the restaurant with the birthday party going on), the position of the bell on the mechanical bunny changes, even though neither actor has touched the bunny. See more »Quotes
Tatsu Watanabe, Kiichi's Wife: My husband thinks all men are as debauched as he is.See more »
Soundtracks
J'ai Deux AmoursMusic by Vincent Scotto
Lyrics by Georges Koger and Henri Varna
Performed by Josephine Baker
When entering in the bar with the long-faced man
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
See more »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
JapanLanguage:
JapaneseRelease Date:
25 March 1956 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Ikiru See more »Filming Locations:
JapanEdit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$2,149, 29 December 2002Gross USA:
$60,239Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$90,773Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (cut)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Contribute to This Page
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I can safely say that I have seen no finer film than Kurosawa's true masterpiece, Ikiru. The story of a dying petty bureaucrat in 1950's Japan, Ikiru is as uncompromisingly honest and beautiful a film as has ever been made on the subject of life. Kurosawa elevates a story that could have been simple melodrama to the level of masterwork with a genuine love of his characters, and with an incredible technical direction. The film's structure accentuates and deepens its many, many lessons on life, and the performances, including a heartbreakingly earnest turn by Shimura are all flawless.
In short, Ikiru is easily one of the greatest works committed to film, and no discerning film aficionado should avoid experiencing it. Had Kurosawa directed only this film, it would still be enough to include him in the pantheon of the greatest storytellers who ever lived. Fortunately for us, it is simply the pinnacle of a staggeringly amazing career. It is the absolute definition of a 10/10 film.