Lecture on Akira Kurosawa's Film "High and Low"

Overview

• Film Focus: Examines ethical dilemmas faced by individuals with power.
• Main Character: Mr. Gondo, a Japanese business executive.
• Director & Actor Pairing: Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune, famous for their collaborations.

Key Themes

• Ethical Crises: Not just one man's drama but a societal ethical crisis.
• Wealth and Poverty: Highlights the tension between different social strata.
• Hope and Despair: Explores the battle between these polar emotions.
• Good and Evil: Questions the simplicity of these concepts.

Plot Summary

• Initial Situation: Gondo is confident in his ethical beliefs.
• Catalyst: Gondo receives news that his son has been kidnapped during a crucial business deal.
  • Not a difficult decision to pay the ransom.
  • Discovery that it was actually his chauffeur's son who was kidnapped.
• Moral Dilemma: Whether to pay the ransom for another man's child.

Film Structure

• Part 1:
  • Setting: Takes place on a single, claustrophobic set.
  • Tone: Formality and theatricality reminiscent of samurai epics.
• Part 2:
  • Shift: Transitions to an expansive outdoor setting.
  • New Anxiety: External settings bring different tensions.

Title Significance

• Japanese Title: Closer to "Heaven and Hell."
• English Title: "High and Low" aptly reflects the film's dual themes.

Impact of Gondo's Decision

• Social Impact: Initiates a vast police investigation.
• Collaboration: Promotes unprecedented cooperation among people.
• Power Beyond Wealth: Explores the idea that there are powers greater than monetary or political influence.

Conclusion

• Message: The relationship between wealth, power, and ethical behavior is complex and multifaceted.