Definitely lesser Kurosawa, this stagey adaptation of a Maxim Gorki play is pretty slow going, even by Kurosawa's standards. There's nothing wrong with the film: it's well acted and shot, but the story simply lacks interest. Not a good place to begin investigating one of the great filmmakers.
Review of The Lower Depths
The Lower Depths
(1957)
If you've never seen a Kurosawa film...don't start with this one
30 October 1999