Hidden gem
Maybe it's just me, but I'd not heard of this film before it came up on Mubi, and gave it a go, and thought it was excellent. I have to say, so much of Japanese cinema from that era far surpasses the vast bulk of US and UK cinema at that time. I found the performances here to be really compelling, and the storyline really impressed me too.
It just surprises me that this is not more widely known - it deserves much more profile than I've seen it getting. I'd go so far as to say it is better than many of Kurosawa's films, but he is so much more well known.
Or perhaps I'm just displaying my ignorance, and everyone else knows about this. I've got a lot to learn about cinema still for sure, and really pleased to have added this to my list now.