TheLittleSongbird The first time I saw Madadayo(Kurasawa's final film), staying with a German pen pal(who was into Kurasawa and considered Madadayo one of her favourites) on a music course, I was largely unfamiliar with Akira Kurasawa's style and found myself underwhelmed. Bear in mind, this was five years ago, and having seen more of his films over the years I thought let's give Madadayo a second chance. And I am glad I did after purchasing the DVD. While nowhere near his best film(I can think of at least seven or eight movies of his that deserve that distinction), Madadayo was much better than I remembered, now I consider it one of his underrated and one of his better films of the post-Ran period. The missing cat sequence does go on for too long, and the film drags in spots. However, it has all the Kurasawa trademarks, especially the delicate direction, superb camera work and beautiful scenery. The music score gives a both reflective and dignified touch to the film, the story does resonate with the audience especially the ending and the characters particularly the professor do interest even if they are not as complex or as dimensional as some of Kurasawa's other work. The acting is naturalistic and engaging at least, with the professor beautifully played. Overall, I'm glad I gave Madadayo a chance because while it is never going to be one of my favourite films there is still much to admire. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Red-125 Madadayo (1993) was the last film written and directed by the great Akira Kurosawa. Sadly, although the movie bears touches of Kurosawa's genius, it is not a truly memorable film.The plot follows the life of a kindly professor, who retires from teaching but who is revered, respected, and almost worshiped by his former students. The problem for me was that we see the professor's many child-like foibles--which the students don't appear to mind--but we never see any evidence of the professor's greatness.The professor taught German, not philosophy or religion, so the subject matter of his lectures couldn't have been inherently inspiring. We are never told what he said within or outside of class that brings about the fervent admiration of his students.After the professor retires, he suffers a series of unpleasant incidents--some serious and some trivial. In each case he students come together to help restore his life to balance. In addition, they have a highly formalized party on his birthday each year. Eventually they include their wives, children, and grandchildren in these laudatory ceremonies.The film is not boring, and it excels in the crowd scenes as well as in the scenes of wartime destruction, but it never provides a central core of substance that would have made the details and incidents meaningful.We saw this film at the excellent Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House in Rochester. However, most of the action takes place indoors, and I'm sure the movie would work well on the small screen.

Ganesh selvaraj I watch Kurosawa's movies because they are packed with wisdom and Madadayo didn't lack the same. I was half way through 'No regrets for our youth' when I thought of watching 'Madadayao'('coz No regrets . . didn't interest me much)so I stopped watching it and started watching 'Madadyo'. Like every Kurosawa's movie 'Madadayo' delivered wisdom wittily. But I slowly lost interest in the movie when the professor starts brooding about the missing cat which I suppose is also bringing the quality of the character down, because I believe that a professor who is highly civilised wouldn't brood for days for a missing cat and I, thinking of being one of his students who hunt for the missing cat would really have given a blow on the professor's face for having called them from their duty.And as I said before - 'I liked it except for the missing cat part '

MartinHafer "Madadayo" is roughly translated into "I'm not ready yet". This was the repeated comment made by the elderly character in this movie. Yes, he had long since retired but he was holding on to life with everything he had and wasn't about to give up! A perfect metaphor for the aging Akira Kurasawa as he directed his last film.The story begins in the 1930s with a celebration for the retiring professor--adoring students are all gathered 'round and there is great festivity in the air. Later, despite the ravages of WW2, the professor endures. Still later, after he loses he beloved pet cat, he endures. And as the years pass, it seems like he will never die! Even when in the end of the movie he is incredibly old and bedridden, he once again tells those around him "Madadayo"--I'm not ready yet.You just have to see it to appreciate all its beauty and scope. Though not Kurasawa's best, it's darn close and a delight to watch.