Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

It is easy to recognize classic when you see it. The way in which is made, the values that rises. To me Kurosawa is like Dostoevsky of the novels.Movie shot mainly in a room. But a room full of different representatives of the lower depths as it is the other title of the movie. Every of them presenting to us different story of falling to these depths.About ups and downs, about how pitiful people can be, to have no will, imagination, faith, hope and love. About that there is no one that will pray for us and about that sometimes we do not need praying, we need actions. About disappointment, impudence, weak-willed. About alcoholism and misery. About people which exist in this forms even now.About holiness, kindness, wisdom. About well-wishing and the sense of eternal journey. About how everyone has parts of his spiritual world that he wish they were gone. About how because of them we can be something much more in the future.http://vihrenmitevmovies.blogspot.com/

I don't know what the budget of 'The Lower Depths' was but it certainly proves that a great film can made for very little. 'The Lower Depths' tells the story of a group of people living in a one room slum of various different occupations and reasons behind their predicament. I didn't really get when it is supposed to be set but its really irrelevant given the timelessness of the production. The first 10 - 20 minutes feel a bit like a theatre, rather than a cinema, production given that the set for nearly the entirety of the film is one room. Whether or not this changes is hard to say but I felt something quite strange about this in that, I didn't feel like I was an external being, I really felt like I was in the room with the actors laughing, singing and drinking with them and that was fantastic.Toshiro Mifune is probably the character that comes closest to a lead role and as always he is fantastic. However, I would say that Isuzu Yamada (who plays Osugi) is also brilliant in a nurse Ratchet like fashion, and the same is true for Bokuzen Hidari (who plays 'grandad'). Whilst those three, for me, were outstanding take nothing away from the rest of the cast they are all very, very good - even if the women's wailings are incessantly annoying.Whilst I wouldn't say that The Lower Depths is Kurosawa's best film by any means it does provide both entertainment and a message. There are both very amusing and very exciting bits but at the same time there's a constant air of thought provoking meaning that you can take what you want from. This isn't the best film ever but its an excellent one, go and see it!

A group of worthless people lives in a slum, including a sick terminal woman with her drunkard husband; a gambler; a pilgrim; a former samurai and an actor. The prostitute Okayo (Kyôko Kagawa) disputes the love of the thief Sutekichi (Toshirô Mifune) with her landlady and sister Osugi (Isuzu Yamada) that is married with Rokubei (Ganjiro Nakamura), leading to a tragedy.I have watched most of Akira Kurosawa's films and the unpleasant "Donzoko" is the only one that I really did not like. It is quite impossible to write a plot summary of the annoying, pointless and dull story. The theatrical screenplay is tiresome and too long despite the good acting and the histrionic Kyôko Kagawa and in the end this is a lesser work of this outstanding director. My vote is four. Title (Brazil): "Ralé" ("The Rabble")

First, I must provide the obligatory warning that this film is absolutely not a good film for introducing a viewer to the power of Kurosawa. Nevertheless, this film is one of his most well-crafted ensemble films. The performance of Bokuzen Hidari as the wandering pilgrim or priest Kahei is his pinnacle in Kurosawa's films. After his comic-relief roles in the more well known films "Ikiru" and "Seven Samurai", this role is Hidari's chance to show his own version of wisdom and authority. Similarly, Kamatari Fujiwara's powerfully sympathetic performance as the alcoholic actor is another surprising demonstration by an actor who had, hitherto, been cast in unsympathetic- even adversarial roles in previous Kurosawa films. As one comes to expect from Isuzu Yamada, her character is a feisty and commanding presence that drives the plot along.Toshiro Mifune, however, was not the best choice for his role as the petty thief- try as he might to look like a immature and puerile common criminal , the false swagger fails to hide the actor's inherent dignity. Nevertheless, his energy and effort still make his performance believable- if incongruous. In general, however, his unsuitability for his role is the only significant snag in an otherwise fluid and natural performance on the part of all the actors. Also, the sets, as one would expect for Kurosawa, are meticulously detailed, well-lit, and authentic-seeming.The story- based on the Maxim Gorky play, however, is not that compelling. In part, I think, it is my reaction to a socialistic morality play brought to the silver screen. Also, however, Kurosawa has tried too hard and has polished the performance and settings for too long. As well and smoothly as the actors interact, as convincing they are in their roles, their performance just does not lead anywhere dramatically. However, I saw the Jean Renoir version- a much less refined effort, in my opinion- and had much the same reaction, concluding that the story, itself, and not Kuroasawa's over-controlling treatment is what hampered my engagement.In spite of that... That is to say... In spite of the fact that the movie's story is not very compelling for me at all, I still have high regard for the film because the acting performances are so solid and engaging. For that reason, I strongly urge devotees of Kurosawa's films to check this movie out at some point while keeping in mind that it remains less than a sum of its parts.