Director: Akira Kurosawa

A life-affirming work that came at a key time for a director whose self-confidence was at its lowest ebb, ‘Dersu Urzala’ is cinema at its most vital.

The narrative and sonic stylings lag behind the excellent visuals, and the film isn’t really more than the sum of its parts.

Based on a pre-war short story, it tackles a major crime in a sober, yet discreet way and plays with the idea that even an obvious crime has many layers hidden beneath the surface.