Seven Samurai | Art of ActionSeven Samurai | Art of Action
Brunswick Moviebowl, Pennyburn Industrial Estate, Derry~Londonderry
One of the crown jewels of world cinema, now in 4K...
This screening will include a 5-minute intermission after 106 minutes.
Akira Kurosawa’s epic Seven Samurai, (presented in a brand new 4K restoration) wrote the rules on how to shoot, edit, frame and present action on screen whilst simultaneously combining stark humanist drama and exhilarating battle sequences. Repeatedly imitated but never eclipsed, with its use of slow motion and cutting on motion, Kurosawa’s black and white masterpiece influenced countless contemporary action films from Star Wars to Mad Max: Fury Road.
When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly, masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances (with Shimura and Toshiro Mifune — as a peasant masquerading as a samurai — particularly memorable) and superb camerawork showcasing Kurosawa’s technical and artistic brilliance, Seven Samurai is one of cinema’s great action films.
Akira Kurosawa | Japan | 1954 | 207 mins | Subtitled | PG
Art of Action
Foyle Film Festival showcases the graceful, balletic nature of action choreography through works of iconic Asian cinema from Japan, Hong Kong, China and South Korea highlighting the significant influence each has had on major contemporary western counterparts.
All screenings form part of Art of Action, a BFI FAN initiative supported through National Lottery, will play in cinemas across the UK and online on BFI Player from October to December 2024.
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