Akira Kurosawa‘s traditional epic “Seven Samurai” is celebrating its seventieth anniversary with a 4K restoration and theatrical re-release.
“Seven Samurai” facilities on Sixteenth-century Japanese warriors who shield their village from invaders. Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura lead the three-hour characteristic hailing from legendary auteur Kurosawa. “Seven Samurai” was his third movie following “Rashomon” and “Ikiru.” “Seven Samurai” famously debuted on the 1954 Venice Movie Pageant, the place Kurosawa received the Silver Lion for Greatest Director.
The seventieth anniversary 4K restoration was made attainable by Toho Co. Ltd, which launched the unique movie. The restored movie debuted on the 2024 Cannes Movie Pageant; the competition additional honored Kurosawa’s contributions to cinema by incorporating a nonetheless of “Rhapsody in August” within the official Cannes poster.
The restoration of “Seven Samurai” might be launched within the U.S. by Janus Movies. Deadline debuted the trailer.
“Seven Samurai” infamously quadrupled its funds throughout manufacturing, with the shoot happening throughout 148 days, unfold over a yr. Toho Studios was concurrently funding “Godzilla,” and the twin productions nearly put the manufacturing firm out of business. The unique minimize was 207 minutes lengthy, with a truncated model debuting at Venice. Toho Studios additionally re-edited the movie for U.S. audiences, and an almost-original director’s minimize clocking in at 203-minute minimize lastly acquired a home theatrical launch in 2002.
The Criterion Assortment later issued Kurosawa’s unique minimize on DVD with a digitally-remastered model in 2005 and a Blu-ray in 2010.
The legacy of “Seven Samurai” has been evident in fellow later epics like 1960 remake “The Magnificent Seven,” “Star Wars,” “The Matrix Revolutions,” “Mad Max: Fury Street,” and even Zack Snyder’s “Insurgent Moon.” “Seven Samurai,” moreover being a movie college staple, additionally topped the 2018 BBC Tradition annual critics’ ballot as the perfect worldwide movie of all-time.
Kurosawa’s filmography can be being revisited due to Spike Lee’s reimagining of “Excessive and Low” starring Denzel Washington. The 1963 Kurosawa crime movie is being remake as an Apple Unique Movie in partnership with A24.
The 4K restoration of “Seven Samurai” premieres July 5 on the Movie Discussion board in New York and can open July 7 on the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. The characteristic may also display screen at L.A.’s Laemmle Royal theater July 12. Distribution is from Janus Movies. Take a look at the trailer beneath.