Kurosawa and Woody Allen

It is rare for me to watch two movies in a day these days. I did it a few times during college days. In a day, I had once seen three Hindi films- and survived. But this weekend was different. I saw a Kurosawa film, Red Beard, followed by a Woody Allen film- Take the Money and Run. Both as different as chalk and cheese- or wine and single malt, but each completely engrossing.

Kurosawa is an acclaimed Japanese director known for his prelude to The Magnificent Seven and eventually, Sholay in its Indian avatar. Seven Samurai. But Red Beard is an incredible film. It is three hours long, and apparently, as its cassette cover describes it, about a young doctor posted in a rural clinic while dreaming of a plush job elsewhere. But that description does no justice at all to the film, and the guy who wrote it must have been blind, or of a low IQ. You will rarely see a movie so rich, multi-layered, and making its point with such little drama- understated in all its finery. The drama is in its simplicity, and the stories within the main story- the one described on the CD cover. It is about life in all its shades- gray, white and black. Of love, betrayal, poverty, lack of medical care, dedication of a single doctor who serves the poor, medical ethics, grace in death, confidences kept till the death bed, and lots more. It is difficult to describe it, actually. In short, great cinema.

Take the Money and Run is a breezy, self-deprecating comedy in typical Woody Allen style, about a bumbling bank robber and his wife. Enjoyable, and good fun to watch.