This is one of Akira Kurosawa's lesser known films. I find I get more enjoyment out of rewatching his classics than I do with delving into his deep cuts, but even when I'm not crazy about one of his films, I never feel like time was wasted watching them. I think every Kurosawa film has something to offer, and I Live of Fear is no exception.
Given the premise about one man's life being ruined because of his fear of atomic weapons, I was expecting this to be more of a psychological drama. Really, it's more of a family drama, with some scenes delving into the man's state of mind, but most of the movie seeming like it was about how it impacted his family. It's a worthwhile approach, but not one that I found as interesting (it's also a bit of a courtroom drama, especially early on).
All the acting is great at least. I don't think I would've realised Toshiro Mifune was the main character if his name hadn't been in the opening credits. He completely disappears into the role of a man twice his age, with his physicality and the mostly good makeup making his performance believable. While the supporting performances are good, I think there's too many side characters, and it gave the otherwise simple narrative a slightly messy feel.
It's also an interesting look at the way Cold War/atomic warfare paranoia hurts people on an individual level, but I just wasn't quite as into the film as I'd hoped. It's decent overall, and certainly has some strong elements, but not one I can say I loved, unfortunately.
Given the premise about one man's life being ruined because of his fear of atomic weapons, I was expecting this to be more of a psychological drama. Really, it's more of a family drama, with some scenes delving into the man's state of mind, but most of the movie seeming like it was about how it impacted his family. It's a worthwhile approach, but not one that I found as interesting (it's also a bit of a courtroom drama, especially early on).
All the acting is great at least. I don't think I would've realised Toshiro Mifune was the main character if his name hadn't been in the opening credits. He completely disappears into the role of a man twice his age, with his physicality and the mostly good makeup making his performance believable. While the supporting performances are good, I think there's too many side characters, and it gave the otherwise simple narrative a slightly messy feel.
It's also an interesting look at the way Cold War/atomic warfare paranoia hurts people on an individual level, but I just wasn't quite as into the film as I'd hoped. It's decent overall, and certainly has some strong elements, but not one I can say I loved, unfortunately.