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therewillbeblus wrote: Sun Jul 21, 2019 6:31 am Stray Dog: Arguably the best “buddy cop” movie, and understandably so since many have pointed to it as the initial entry into the subgenre, with plenty of noir and police-procedural elements overshadowing this categorical assignment. Mifune and Shimura have excellent chemistry, not just between one another but with all the other actors they encounter, with Shimura’s presence particularly striking in its reserved wisdom with doses of pathos against Mifune’s young, intense novice. What really sells this, though, is the engrossing story with plenty of exciting twists, turns, and setpieces, and Kurosawa’s use of mise-en-scène effectively transports the viewer into the story. The most consistent example of this is that, much like Do the Right Thing, we feel the strength of the heat wave as if side by side with the characters, watching them vigorously sweat, wave their fans, break down and lose tempers under the beating sun, as if we were right there with them.

The noir plot effectively provides many seedy hidden cultures of criminals, and watching our detectives move through them is exhilarating, with some minor characters exhibiting bizarre behavior that could be part of a horror film out of context (and within context, descending into unknown spaces and disrupting our sense of cultural competency is quite a scary experience even for our ‘heroic’ policemen). The high stakes are always felt throughout the narrative, and we find ease in reason to care about the mission and our protagonists. This isn’t a ‘good guys vs. bad guys’ story in celebrating the protectors of the state vs. its enemies for nationalist reasons, but one where Mifune makes a mistake by losing his gun (or allowing it to be taken), emasculating himself, and the rest of the film is spent trying to get it back and retrieve his manhood, the bolt holding all of his self-worth together, while unknown assailants use it to hurt or kill others. Despite the obviously Japanese-specific cultural norms emphasizing the effects of shame, losing face, the ease of losing one’s masculinity, and loyalty to one’s profession forged with identity, there are universal humanistic principles at play here that make the entire film relatable. The sense of ‘responsibility,’ significant for most viewers in both individually existential and social realms, is omnipresent, and we have as much stake in this mission as the police, suspended against the uncontrollable nature of time, and the unknown forces who may be using this weapon to bear more weight on our hero’s, and our collective, conscious. Kurosawa’s camera compulsively details suspects, increasing movement to focus on clues as the film continues, as if to match Mifune’s desperation, obsession, and skill, as he remains in the field and models his veteran partner’s habits while simultaneously exhausting his energy. In the end, we feel how tired everyone is, and as the showdown ends, laying in the grass, crying and screaming, that exasperation, the final depletion of all will power to hold onto social norms, masculine ideals, ideologies of purpose, mission, duty, is all expressed vividly in one of the most strikingly real depictions of ‘surrender’ on screen; humble, stripped, and beaten, even if arguably having ‘won’ in the aims of the mission.

While I consider myself a Kurosawa fan, my mileage varies considerably within his filmography, though this is close to the top, and while I prefer High and Low overall as a film, this utilizes the detective mystery design to concoct the more purely fun film of the two, and possibly within his entire canon.

That said, one of the movie's most praised aspects I've come to see as a weakness. I think I talked with Kerpan about this some years ago, but Kurosawa's interest in the underclasses could be quite shallow, lacking lived experience.

STRAY DOG
A film by Akira Kurosawa
4K restoration released on Blu-ray, iTunes and Amazon Prime on 27 January 2025

A masterful mix of film noir and police thriller set on the sweltering mean streets of occupied Tokyo, Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 feature Stray Dog stars Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. On 27 January (previously listed as 20 January) the BFI brings it to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK (alongside the BFI Blu-ray release of the director’s High and Low), newly restored in 4K resolution by Toho Co., Ltd using an original 35mm master positive element and presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Special features include a newly recorded audio commentary.

When rookie detective Murakami (Toshiro Mifune) has his pistol stolen from his pocket, his frantic attempts to track down the thief lead him to an illegal weapons market in the Tokyo underworld. But the gun has already passed from the pickpocket to a young gangster, and is soon identified as the firearm used in a shooting. Murakami is overwhelmed with remorse and turns for help to his older and more experienced senior, Sato (a superb performance by Takashi Shimura). The race is on to find the gunman before he can strike again…

Special features
• Presented in High Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentary by Japanese-Australian filmmaker Kenta McGrath
• A Japanese Tale (2024, 31 mins): Kurosawa scholar Jasper Sharp discusses Stray Dog and its position within the director’s cinematic oeuvre
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Stray Dog (2002, 32 mins): a Toho documentary short examining Kurosawa’s compelling crime drama in detail
***First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with a new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw, an archival essay by Philip Kemp, Akira Kurosawa writing on the film, notes on the special features and film credits

Product details
RRP: £19.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1528 / PG
Japan / 1949 / black and white / 122 minutes / Japanese language with optional English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 // BD50: 1080p, 23.98fps, LPCM 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)