Ikiru

I was pleasantly surprised by the movie Ikiru. Recommended to me by Netflix, I expected a more modern-day film and was slightly disappointed when seeing black and white. However, the plot of the movie more than makes up for any silly prejudices on my part.

The movie begins by showing a sad, old man (Watanabe) in a deadend job at city hall with no hope of happiness or a future. His coworkers joke about his lack of importance. To add to his dismal existence, Watanabe soon finds out he is to die in less than a year due to stomach cancer. This sends him into deep depression, especially considering that his son and daughter-in-law have no respect for him and only want his money.

Watanabe tries to commit suicide, but on the way to death's door he meets a young man willing to show him what life is really about. Along the way, Watanabe remembers what it means to live and love. He also meets a young woman (a former coworker) on the street. She is filled with such life that inspires him to make a difference.

In his dying days, he strives to change a devastated community filled with garbage and disease. He works endlessly and passionately to rid the community of a cesspool and create a park for children. His persistence allows the change to occur, despite many obstacles.

There are some amazingly deep scenes in this mocvie. My favorite shows Watanabe walking away from a group of people singing "Happy Birthday," signifying his trek away from birth towards death. Also, at the end of the film, the viewer sees Watanabe standing on a bridge, watching the children play in his park from above, symbolizing Watanabe watching from heaven.

Ikiru is powerful. The message gives hope that anything can be accomplished, but also shows human nature to forget one's passions until the very end. It captures human success and failure, hope and despair, love and loss. It reminds the viewer that life is short and warns to listen before it's too late. I give this movie 4 potatoes.