Dersu Uzala (1975)

Directed by: Akira Kurosawa | 140 minutes | adventure, biography | Actors: Maksim Munzuk, Yuriy Solomon, Mikhail Bychkov

Akira Kurosawa is a cornerstone of modern cinema, but things didn’t always run smoothly for the Japanese master. After his film ‘Dodes’ka-den’ (1970) received bad international reviews, Kurosawa tried to end his life. Fortunately, he failed and in 1973 the Russian film studio Mosfilm asked if he could make a film about Dersu Uzala; a memoir about a nomad who hunts in the taiga of Russia and befriends a group of soldiers exploring the area. The film not only wins the Oscar for best international film in 1975, but also breathes new life into Kurosawa’s career.

‘Dersu Uzala’ is a classic Kurosawa movie in many ways. As in his films about samurai, in this Russian film he tackles the contrast between old and new. The lonely Dersu is one of the last of his kind. Braving the rough life of the wild in harsh conditions is ridiculed by a group of modern soldiers when they see Dersu walking out of the bushes. The captain of the military admires the old Dersu and soon a close friendship develops.

The strength of ‘Dersu Uzala’ lies in the bond that develops between the soldiers and the fighter. Gradually, they begin to respect each other more and more, which leads to a heartwarming collaboration. Kurosawa transforms the unforgivable and raw Siberia into a beautiful environment where man and nature are in balance. It’s hard not to get a soft spot for the philosophy of the forgotten nomad. The film shows that there is joy and beauty in the most extreme circumstances. Music is not necessary, the camera work and the location of the filming form their own harmony, just as beautiful as that of the main characters.

Despite the fact that ‘Dersu Uzala’ is not very well known, the film had a lot of impact on George Lucas’ original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy. Teacher Yoda is very similar to Dersu. A scene in which the captain and Dersu must survive overnight in a snowstorm is very reminiscent of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker who must do the same on the ice planet Hoth.

A parallel can be drawn between ‘Dersu Uzala’ and today’s modern society. Well, Kurosawa probably didn’t have in mind that everyone would be glued to a screen all day in the future, but the message remains relevant: look after our fellow human beings and have respect for what nature gives us. ‘Dersu Uzala’ paints a picture of how the ruthless yet fascinating taiga can make us long for real friendships in a simpler time.