Film Review: Seven Samurai

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is a legend for a reason — here are some influences and thoughts on a 4K rewatch on the big screen.

Seven Samurai has been making the rounds at repertory theaters recently in honor of its 70th anniversary, and I was lucky enough to see it on a cold January Sunday at the Plaza in Atlanta. Enjoying it in glorious 4K on the silver screen with twenty or so like-minded cinephiles, I had an absolute blast. I've seen it many times before, and it seemed to always be playing in the background at my grandmother's house growing up (strangely enough, my classical Southern matriarch was a big fan of samurai movies). 

For those that aren't familiar with the plot, the story centers around a medieval farming village that's been beset by bandits who come to steal their crops — as it's not ripe for harvest yet, the bad guys vow to return when it is. The farmers set out to convince samurai to come to their aid, offering unlimited food as payment. Fortunately, a starving ronin (samurai without masters and thus jobs), takes them up on their quest, and manages to gather a crew of like-minded warriors to commit to the cause. 

Discussion-wise, I don't think that there's much I can bring to the table that hasn't been the subject of countless textbooks, documentaries, and college seminars, so I thought instead I'd focus on 5 things that brought me joy or that I hadn't noticed until this viewing.

1. Oh George Lucas, I'd recognize that flower field anywhere

It's no secret that George Lucas was heavily influenced by Kurosawa's filmmaking techniques, from screen wipes to dramatic musical accompaniment. He even acknowledged that Hidden Fortress inspired him to tell the story of A New Hope through the eyes of lowly droids, stand-ins for the lowly peasants that anchor Hidden Fortress. (Here's a quick primer on exactly all those similarities.)

But in the middle of Seven Samurai, there's a scene of beauty and respite for the youngest samurai, Katsushirō and Shino, a local village girl. They meet secretly in field of flowers, laughing and flirting while trying to ignore the fact that bandits are about to besiege their town. Even though Seven Samurai is shot in black and white, this scene stands out with the sheer number of small delicate flowers, and they contrast well against the dark and scrubby brush behind them. It's very clear that Lucas had this scene in mind while filming Attack of the Clones, as Anakin and Padme similarly share a moment of joy in the flower field on Naboo. (Another fun reference? Darth Vader's helmet is 100% influenced by samurai helmets. The list goes on and on when it comes to Lucas' love for Kurosawa.)

2. Kambei's easy smile makes me want to be a better person

The first time we meet Kambei, he's shaving his ceremonial chonmage, or top knot, so he can disguise himself as a monk to go undercover and rescue a kidnapped child. This isn't something that's taken lightly, as a samurai's haircut was not only practical (it helped to keep his helmet securely on his head in battle) but also symbolic, identifying him to all the world as a warrior. He is, as we'll see throughout the movie, a total good guy. His decision to help the struggling villagers is the only reason the others join him, as he's a natural leader. But what I love most about him is how kind he is — his smile is contagious and very pure. He doesn't raise his voice, he doesn't get impatient, and he's always, always cool, calm, and collected. I aspire to take his approach to life, and smile more to the world. 

3. The villager choreography definitely had an influence on Mad Max: Fury Road

To understand Seven Samurai, you have to know a little about the life of a farmer in this era. It's the 1580s, in rural Japan, and life is hard. Like, really hard. Farmers are the lifeblood of the empire, but they're also vulnerable to droughts, famine, and pillaging attacks from bandits. Daily life is full of toil and hard work, and their bodies are rough for the wear. Kurosawa depicts his villagers in an interesting way in this movie, and the "villager choreography" as I call it always sees them moving together en masse, whether they're planting, harvesting, mourning, fighting, or celebrating. I think this is a nod to the communal nature of their existence, as it you can't do literally anything by yourself when you're a farmer. 

While watching, I was reminded of the poor souls known as The Wretched who eke out a sad existence outside Immortan Joe's Citadel in Mad Max: Fury Road. They have a much worse life, it's true, but the way the move together, down to the stick baskets they wear strapped to their backs, very clearly resembles the villagers in Seven Samurai. And like the samurai, Mad Max and Furiosa help deliver them from evil and restore abundance.

Oh! And another way George Miller included an homage to Seven Samurai? Remember when Max ventures into the (former) Green place swamp, all you hear is shooting, and then somehow miraculously returns with a ton of guns and ammo? Kurosawa did it first, only with Kyūzō volunteering to go steal a musket from the bandits in the dead of night and comes back with it a few hours later, with two more dead bandits to add to Kambei's tally. Kyūzō is the stoic and skillful swordsman, and watching him on screen is absolutely mesmerizing. Even though he's a samurai, he gives kung fu hero vibes. 

4. The sheer likability of the samurai is just mind-blowing

The world loves a "we're putting together a team for a job" movie and I am certainly no exception. From The Dirty Dozen and The Magnificent Seven to Ocean's 11 and The Italian Job, these kinds of movies are just incredibly watchable. Why? I think it's because you get a super diverse array of characters (all with unique skillsets that are fun), witty banter, and a sense of camaraderie that's extremely FOMO-inducing.

Kambeo assembles a crew to protect the villagers that's got everything: a skilled and stoic sword master, a woodchopper that can help them through dark times, an old friend, a hot head, a youngster eager to prove his worth, and a skilled archer. And the best part is, when these guys are on screen, the actually seem like they like hanging out with each other. Some are in it for the glory, some for the rice, and some for revenge, but they're all also in it for the sense of belonging they get — even the blustery and crass Kikuchiyo, who starts the movie out as an annoying hanger-on but who comes full circle as a hero. No joke, I would kill to have lunch with these guys.

5. This time around, Kikuchiyo's story choked me up a little

Comic relief in Seven Samurai comes in the form of Kikuchiyo, a peasant-born street fighter that longs to be a samurai. He is loud, crude, almost always nearly naked, and constantly scratching himself. He only makes it on to the team thanks to his sheer persistence as he trails along beside the heroes on the way to the village, refusing to take no for an answer. It isn't until well into the movie that we learn about his origin story, and it helps us understand why he's choosing to fight for these trod upon people. It's his past.

In the final battle scene, he rushes towards burning buildings to help those trapped inside, and a dying mother hands him her child before collapsing. He grabs the baby and then absolutely just falls apart, confessing "This child was me!" It is at this point that we learn about his trauma-filled past. He too was an orphan, the victim of violence against his small community. In a movie this old, and about samurai warriors, you wouldn't expect this level of emotionality, and it's refreshing to see with modern eyes. Kikuchiyo goes on to fight bravely and sacrifice himself for this village, and in the process helps to break the cycle of trauma for many others and giving them a chance to escape a fate like his.

Overall

Seven Samurai is three and half hours long, but there's not a wasted minute or any filler. I even found myself waiting until the brief intermission to run to the bathroom so I wouldn't miss a single scene, and this despite the fact that I'd seen it before. The film is a somewhat shocking 70 years old, yet it still looks incredible and is compulsively watchable. I think it's because it's the classic battle of good versus evil, filled with universal archetypes that all know and love, from the one-eyed bandit to the clear-eyed hero who can make it all right. It's long run time is thus a feature and not a bug, as it can freely spend time letting the audience get to know the characters and their struggles. Somehow, it's still relatable for modern audiences, too — from the jaw-dropping action scenes and forbidden romance to the potty humor jokes.

Everyone should see Seven Samurai, I fully believe this. I'm still riding the high of seeing it on the big screen. Be right back, going to look into ordering a T-shirt with the samurai flag on it...

POSTED BY: Haley Zapal, NoaF contributor and lawyer-turned-copywriter living in Atlanta, Georgia. A co-host of Hugo Award-winning podcast Hugo, Girl!, she posts on Instagram as @cestlahaley. She loves nautical fiction, growing corn and giving them pun names like Timothee Chalamaize, and thinking about fried chicken.