Got to this film having seen the 'crows' scene and although i wasn't disappointed, that still remains my favourite. The colours are simply amazing.
From a western view i found it particularly interesting trying to determine the line between Japanese culture and the straight up surreal, specifically in the first two
pieces. As im sure was Kurosawa's intention some of the landscapes are beautiful and dreamlike, whilst others are artificial and almost cartoonish (mount fuji scene in particular). The implicit subject matter of the film, man's relationship with his environment, has a very Japanese feel to it, echoed in the theme of nuclear fallout. The assumed message, to treat nature with respect, is subtly imprinted throughout, although it is positively harrowing in the 'weeping demon' scene.
I have an uneasy relationship with the title of Kurosawa's Dreams, but just the title. I think it's a truism that one person's dreams cannot possibly be understood or even interest another person. Turned into visuals, they might be more interesting, but mostly on the level of IMAGE. From a visual artist of some repute (we know his other films), it might offer a door into his creative process or a certain moment in his biography. Making several shorts based on his dreams has more potential than if I were to do the same, but as the dreams here are curated and molded into short stories, often with a supernatural bent (spirits and ghosts might come to these people in dreams), Dreams avoids the pitfalls of a "dream diary". It still touches some of the elements I mentioned, whether it's the very strange casting of Martin Scorsese as Van Gogh (because dreams can conflate two similar people, in this case artists), or the apocalyptic back end of the film which is filled with death - both violent and peaceful - when we know Kurosawa only had two more films in him before ill health benched him for the remaining 5 years of his life. The function of dreams is present, but in service of poignant and visually inventive stories, like the soldier haunted by his dead comrades, or the race through Van Gogh's paintings. Dreams, as a title, filled me with dread and preemptive boredom, but as it turned out, it's a very pretty collection of tales, even if some are a little languorous (consider that its last shot evokes Solaris' first).
Amazing piece of art!! Incredible cinematography!! A movie to feel every second of it, and with beautiful music.. Even the "boring" dreams are incredible, you really feel the characters anxiety, distress and pain. The Van Gogh dream alone could be classified as one of the best shorts ever!
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Comments 1 - 9 of 9
dchauvin
Got to this film having seen the 'crows' scene and although i wasn't disappointed, that still remains my favourite. The colours are simply amazing.From a western view i found it particularly interesting trying to determine the line between Japanese culture and the straight up surreal, specifically in the first two
pieces. As im sure was Kurosawa's intention some of the landscapes are beautiful and dreamlike, whilst others are artificial and almost cartoonish (mount fuji scene in particular). The implicit subject matter of the film, man's relationship with his environment, has a very Japanese feel to it, echoed in the theme of nuclear fallout. The assumed message, to treat nature with respect, is subtly imprinted throughout, although it is positively harrowing in the 'weeping demon' scene.
tommy_leazaq
Exceptional cinematography. This, Ran, Doodeskuden might as well constitute "Vibrant Colors" trilogy...Rita
I love best the last dream than any other!!!joaopeterossi
such a underrated filmSiskoid
I have an uneasy relationship with the title of Kurosawa's Dreams, but just the title. I think it's a truism that one person's dreams cannot possibly be understood or even interest another person. Turned into visuals, they might be more interesting, but mostly on the level of IMAGE. From a visual artist of some repute (we know his other films), it might offer a door into his creative process or a certain moment in his biography. Making several shorts based on his dreams has more potential than if I were to do the same, but as the dreams here are curated and molded into short stories, often with a supernatural bent (spirits and ghosts might come to these people in dreams), Dreams avoids the pitfalls of a "dream diary". It still touches some of the elements I mentioned, whether it's the very strange casting of Martin Scorsese as Van Gogh (because dreams can conflate two similar people, in this case artists), or the apocalyptic back end of the film which is filled with death - both violent and peaceful - when we know Kurosawa only had two more films in him before ill health benched him for the remaining 5 years of his life. The function of dreams is present, but in service of poignant and visually inventive stories, like the soldier haunted by his dead comrades, or the race through Van Gogh's paintings. Dreams, as a title, filled me with dread and preemptive boredom, but as it turned out, it's a very pretty collection of tales, even if some are a little languorous (consider that its last shot evokes Solaris' first).Yousef Mousa
Definitely my favorite dream is the Crows and the last dream. Beautiful music.Dieguito
Amazing piece of art!! Incredible cinematography!! A movie to feel every second of it, and with beautiful music.. Even the "boring" dreams are incredible, you really feel the characters anxiety, distress and pain. The Van Gogh dream alone could be classified as one of the best shorts ever!CineFagos
Poetic, Prophetic, Emblematic.jktomas
Some dreams are very good (the first two and the one with Fuji eruption), but others are just too slow and boring.