I am watching another Kurosawa film - I really need to buy everything he ever did. He directed 30 movies apparently - and I've seen maybe ten? That's pathetic. I am watching High and Low, and to use a phrase my friend Shannon loves: it's flawless.
High and Low is based on an Ed McBain novel (King's Ransom), which I will read. It is set in Japan in the early 60's, and some of K's regulars are there. Toshiro M plays a wealthy industrialist whose chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake instead of his own. The first half of the movie sets up his struggle regarding payment - his character will have to endure severe hardship to pay the ransom, and this isn't his kid, for God's sake! The second half is the police versus the criminal.
If you don't know Akira K, I would have you start with a different film, but this one would work for an intro to one of the best directors ever. Think about what Hollywood would do to this film.
Also note the comments at the beginning of the film regarding quality versus quantity in production of goods. It's pretty ironic given Toyota's current stint in the news.
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