“The glorious vigor and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword.”—Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, Seven Samurai tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants are under threat from invading bandits. After consulting with the town elder, the villagers are told they must go out and assemble a team of warriors, the eponymous seven samurai, if they are to have any chance of defending themselves.
This three-hour-plus ride from Akira Kurosawa—featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura—seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action, into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope. The film was later remade in the U.S. in 1960 as The Magnificent Seven transposed as a western. 1954, Japan, 4K DCP, in Japanese with English subtitles, 207 minutes plus an intermission. Recommended for 14+