High and Low

Kingo Gondō (Toshirō Mifune) has every reason to be satisfied with his life. He is a diligent businessman who has just secured a loan that will help him solidify his power in the company and curb the influence of dishonest partners. However, his world is thrown into turmoil when a kidnapping occurs – the criminals mistakenly abduct his chauffeur’s child instead of his own son. Gondō faces an agonizing dilemma: if he pays the ransom, he will go bankrupt and ruin his professional life. As time runs out, he wrestles with his conscience while the police launch a wide-ranging investigation, which eventually uncovers the unusual motives of the kidnappers. Sometimes interpreted as a modern variation on Dante’s Divine Comedy, High and Low exemplifies Akira Kurosawa’s signature blend of gripping genre filmmaking, philosophical depth, and social commentary. The film exposes the dark side of Japan’s economic boom in the 1960s while also serving as a universal critique of the frustrations and tensions that fuel capitalism.

Piotr Czerkawski

In Poland, Akira Kurosawa’s film High and Low is known under two titles: Niebo i piekło (Heaven and Hell) and Wielki i mały (The Great and the Small). Its story continues to inspire filmmakers – Spike Lee is currently working on an American remake. Filming for Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Lee, is set to begin in March, with Denzel Washington starring in the lead role. This marks the first time in nearly two decades that Washington is reuniting with the director of Do the Right Thing and Inside Man.

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who is widely considered one of the greatest directors of all time. He’s known for a bold, dynamic directorial style which was influenced by Western cinema; in turn, his films have been a major influence on cinema outside of Japan, especially in the western and sci-fi genres. His best-known films include Rashomon (1950), Ikiru(1952), Kagemusha (1980) and Ran (1985)