The Quiet Duel

Another well-made but preachy and melodramatic PSA, this time about the dangers of not getting your syphilis treated. My favourite part was probably Minegishi's character arc; the apathetic outsider slowly becoming passionate and dedicated to the protagonist's noble cause can be a cliché, but it's done really well here.

The "rant" scene with the rant is overwrought melodrama; not that Kurosawa ever shies away from "overwrought", but this was really just too blunt. And at times the film threatens to devolve into an educational reel about syphillis. But overall, the finer qualities tend to shine through, with Kurosawa's terrific sense of composition and a few masterfully executed scenes (the opening sequence and the climactic confrontation at the end in particular). And the story is watchable and satisfying.

good movie

This is a good drama from Akira Kurosawa, but the subject matter makes it a hard watch. While the lead character keeps his dignity in check, syphilis is still demonized by the behavior of the source character. An important awareness piece and one of the better ones tackling the subject.

Em honra do centenário de Toshirō Mifune filme #2. https://letterboxd.com/ladyspiggott/film/the-quiet-duel/

I liked it. I always have a tough time starting a Japanese film, because of the 'stiffness' of the characters. During the latter half when the character Nakata re-enters the film things start loosening up a little and it all leads to a pay-off that's somewhat fulfilling but could have done more to finish Mifune's story.

Interesting early Kurosawa is too slow and static in the mid-section to be entirely successful, devoting long, moralistic commentary on the scourge of syphilis; however performances are first rate (with Sengoku as neurotic nurse stealing the show, and Uemura not far behind as patient zero) and Mifune is always a formidable presence, even when given little to do but look troubled.

73.500

75.250

As FFD said, the beginning and end scenes are both terrific, the rest is very melodramatic but well-made. I never thought I'd see the day when both Mifune Toshiro and Shimura Takashi were out-acted in the same movie!