Dersou Ouzala

Kurosawa was a director with an unusual flair for set design and proper image placement, which he here exploits to the fullest. But most importantly, he was also able to cast the ideal actors, people who gave their best in front of the camera, and Maksim Munzuk embodies the nature-bred Dersu Uzala so perfectly that I can safely call it the most likeable character ever to appear in a non-English language film. I sympathized so much with Captain Arsenev, for whom the kindly old hunter literally becomes an idol, a best friend and the only hope for survival in the inhospitable labyrinth of nature. A stirring service for humanity, understanding and the purity of beautiful nature, whose rules are never stupid, useless or unfair. I wonder how good the book must be. 95% (19/03/2014)

An immensely powerful film that proved Akira Kurosawa still has the chops to make films the world will remember. And it doesn't matter that it was in Russia. On the contrary, he was able to use the environment in a way that usually only documentary filmmakers can. In this case, it's to the benefit of the plot and it is a really great spectacle. Nature and man are in perfect harmony with and against each other, as are man and society. (29/09/2015)