Cinematic Cities: Okinawa Noir

By

Tony D'Ambra

– November 19, 2009Posted in: Lobby, Noir Cities

Stray Dog (aka Nora inu) 1949
Director Akira Kurosawa | DP Asakazu Nakai

Akira Kurosawa’s 10th film directly inspired by Jules Dassin’s The Naked City (1948), explores the nether world of post-WW2 Japan in a story that parallels the American noir theme of the returning soldier’s re-integration into civilian society. The different responses of two men to a chance event underlie the story of pursuit tempered by empathy, and the realisation that the pursuer could as easily have been the pursued. Full Review.
 

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Related posts:

1. Stray Dog (Japan 1949): Kurosawa 5-star Noir
2. Cinematic Cities: New York Noir
3. Cinematic Cities: Paris Noir
4. Cinematic Cities: Chicago City Noir
5. Cinematic Cities: LA Noir

4 Comments

1. John Greco

   Posted November 19, 2009 at 11:42 PM

   A beautiful, descriptively written and evocative review of a film that sounds perfect for my taste. I am on my way to Barnes & Nobles during my lunch time break from work and hopefully they have it in stock. If not, I am on-line tonight.

2. Tony D'Ambra

   Posted November 20, 2009 at 8:44 AM

   Thanks John! It is a Criterion DVD and they are currently 50pct off at B&N.

3. Sam Juliano

   Posted November 21, 2009 at 8:41 AM

   Yes indeed. I remember this review well, and although I didn’t have the benefit at the time of getting it at 50% off, I did get it at 20% off!! Ha!! This realistic piece, which does in fact recall Dassin, is one of Kurosawa’s greatest early films, in fact it’s would quality for a short list of his greatest films ever. Great, atmospheric screen cap there.

4. Tony D'Ambra

   Posted November 21, 2009 at 10:29 AM

   Thanks Sam!