Seven Samurai

  • Japan Shichinin no samurai (more)
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With their village raided every year by vicious bandits, a group of peasants hire seven warriors to protect them. Initially met with suspicion, the warriors eventually gain the trust of the peasants and they join forces to face the bandits. Endlessly copied but never surpassed, Seven Samurai is a truly timeless classic. (British Film Institute (BFI))

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Reviews (9)

novoten 

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English The story does not differ from the more well-known American western classic, perhaps only in that Kurosawa gives more space to the villagers and the viewer can sympathize with them more, whereas in The Magnificent Seven, I was more concerned with how many cowboys would survive than with the farmers. I don't like looking for flaws in classics, but three hours for a story about saving a village from bandits is a bit too much, and especially in the middle third, I found myself glancing at the clock too often. This time, Asian grandiosity did not resonate with me. ()

3DD!3 

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English Kurosawa’s gem is a tad slow for my taste, but precise in every detail. This picture was a foundation stone for so many stories, where a handful of brave men stand up for the weak, even though they are heavily outnumbered. These days we should value these films all the more, because even after all these years they tell us more about people than any others. Your head is on the block and all you think of are your whiskers? ()

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kaylin 

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English One of those movies that are not unnecessarily celebrated. It is a breathtaking opus that is indeed long, but not unnecessarily. There is drama, there is humor, action, and emotions. All of this in the story of a village that just wanted to help against the bandits. Great characters and great scenes that cannot be easily forgotten. Above all, the ending is truly harrowing and shows the form that gratitude can take towards people who died for you. ()

Zíza 

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English Even though I'd been interested in Kikuchiya for a long time, even though it entertained me and made me laugh, it was too long... Yes, it's a legendary film that a lot of directors have taken their cue from. It's typically Japanese, those who don't know a bit of the Japanese mentality may be surprised by many things (the film remains misunderstood in many aspects); it flows slowly, it flows gradually, it flows with the seasons. And apparently it's a must for anyone who wants to get to know Kurasawa-sama a little :-) But let's not kid ourselves, the running time is just overlong... :-D ()

lamps 

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English The Japanese can be rightly proud of themselves, because already in 1954 they came up with such a breathtaking adventure spectacle, the likes of which had never been seen in Hollywood not only until then, but even a few years later. Much has already been said about The Magnificent Seven, which borrowed the theme and, according to many, even surpassed it, but I wouldn't go into any comparisons. Seven Samurai is, after all, a very different film, one that irradiates Japanese culture, and one that fleshes out the story in a far more detailed, emotional and realistic way than its American counterpart. The Samurai were no cowboys who would not bat an eyelash at a hostile attack, but a bunch of ordinary cheerful people with admirable endurance and courage. And maybe that’s the reason I liked the Japanese film a bit more, not only does it present the heroism and determination of the protagonists, but it also focuses on their character and their initially difficult coexistence with the oppressed population. 207 minutes may look exhausting, but believe me, there's probably no better way to spend them than watching Seven Magnificent Samurai under the guidance of Master Kurosawa... ()

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