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.

It’s rough around the edges to be sure, but there’s much to be savoured here; Kurosawa gets more out of this condensed 80 minutes than many filmmakers get from three hours or so.

From the opening frames to the triumphant ending, every frame in this work of sublime cinema is an unbridled joy, an ingenious mixture of excitement, character and dry humour.