MovieChat Forums > Dodesukaden (1974) Discussion > Depressing!

Depressing!

posted 13 years ago by matrix5904
11 replies | jump to latest

The film seems to suggest that a down-trodden society creates down-trodden people (who overtly fantasise as opposed to solving problems first hand. Did this film oppitomise Kurosawa's self doubt in the human spirit after being dismissed from hollywood et al.

For instance, Anyone who is seemingly nice in the film is robbed, stabbed, walked all over upon, raped, and even die. Its incredibly harrowing. how does one respond to such a negative film?

in Dreams, Drubken Angel, Ikiru or I Live in Fear there are answers to the problems Kurosawa poses. But in dodeska'den, there is nothing but 'get on with it': rather like the artist who is robbed yet continues to allow it to happen and even points the burglar in the right direction of the money.

The synopsis offered optimism in how the imagination can bridge the gap of a missing reality, how humanity is willful enough to embrace any dwelling, but in the end, it has an incredibly depressing outlook. No wonder Kurosawa was on the verge of suicide after this film, it has a terribly negative viewpoint upon humanity.

As viewers, how is one supposed to respond, YES, maybe 'such is life' but that is not disclosing the strength of the human spirit!

what a film, as terrible as it may be...

[–] matrix5904 13 years ago

also, the film contains a very mixed message...

Kurosawa is saying that fantasy is the only way to escape such a depressing, cold world (in how the trolley boy is oblivious to the pain and suffering)- agian, very depressing - yet at the same time he chastises such dwelling within fantasy in how the beggars son dies due to the fathers lust for creating a dream home, as opposed to solving the immediate problem of his childs sickness.

What is the underlining message of this?

Is Kurosawa suggesting that a middle ground between the two extremes is what is required? A healthy balance of reality and fantasy is what one needs to enjoy life.

Too much fantasy and you are merely refracting the problems. too much reality and one will be drove to depression. A healthy balance is the answer. Is this the message of Dodes'Ka'Den?

I will take it as so, unless others offer their thoughts.

[–] sir_mercutio_99 13 years ago

Hmm I didn't think it was a bad movie, but a movie that is very true to life, which for most can seem very daunting and depressing. Most films that are about the downtrodden folk in life tend to be depressing and hard to sell. Kurosowa was going thru a bad patch and tried to commit sucide after the film. I you made a film today about people living and trying to get thru living in utter poverty it wouldn't get sold to a major studio.

[–] kerchable 12 years ago

Just a really bizarre movie beginning to end. I like it for the pure surrealism and grittiness. Very strange movie but also entertaining.

[–] sir_mercutio_99 12 years ago

It does have a level of Surrealism, I'm trying to think of a movie in the similar vein (about the downtrodden folks) but can't think of one. Closest maybe Heaven's Gate (1980) but that was a western.

[–] matrix5904 12 years ago

the film is not bad per se, just very depressing and thus becomes bad in it's gravely negative message.

Life always has a silver lining and i feel that Kurosawa turned away from this to depict his darkest emotions. That may be great art which i stand by but i don't believe that it makes for a great phenomenological experience when all that can be taken from it is brutal negativity. The film is a suicide note.

[–] sir_mercutio_99 12 years ago

True. I would also include Wozzeck in both the film and opera versions.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] matrix5904 12 years ago

interesting.. I can see how but what did you take from it overall?

[–] afreimann 9 years ago

I understand what you're saying. This is not a 'feel good' film; there is no fairy-tale ending for anyone. This is not a piece created for escapism, but for its interpretive value. The witnessing of human nature at it's best (the artist who aids those stealing from him as an example), it's worst (many examples of avarice and cruelty), and at it's weakest, showing how (hu)man will turn to fantasy, substance abuse, and more as attempts to cope with difficult situations.
Sometimes there are no happy endings, but those stories still deserve to be told. How bold of Kurosawa to challenge us all with his raw, honestly tragic and very human characters.

I hope you'll give the flick another shot and perhaps watch it in a different frame of mind; you may be able to take more away from it this time.
Happy movie watching!
Veritas et misericordia regnum exercent.
A. Freimann

[–] Maxvayne 7 years ago

I understand what you're saying. This is not a 'feel good' film; there is no fairy-tale ending for anyone. This is not a piece created for escapism, but for its interpretive value. The witnessing of human nature at it's best (the artist who aids those stealing from him as an example), it's worst (many examples of avarice and cruelty), and at it's weakest, showing how (hu)man will turn to fantasy, substance abuse, and more as attempts to cope with difficult situations.
Sometimes there are no happy endings, but those stories still deserve to be told. How bold of Kurosawa to challenge us all with his raw, honestly tragic and very human characters.

This.

I believe the message is more along the lines is that you can find beauty even in most of the worst situations.

And let's be clear, just because a film is depressing it doesn't mean that it's bad.

[–] mojo2004 7 years ago

There's also no doubt you have people living like this everyday all over the world. I live in Wash DC and there are people living no so far away in MD that still have outhouses and no running water in the house. Some parts of rural
W.Va. looks as in did back in the Depression. When you think about it what's really sad we have people in society who have everything they want and make very good money and the same horrible things that happened in this film ,happen in their neighborhoods too.

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