Year: 1958
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Lured by gold, two greedy peasants escort a man and woman across enemy lines. However, they do not realize that their companions are actually a princess (Misa Uehara) and her general (Toshiro Mifune). Along the way, the General's prowess is put to the test through close encounters with the pursuing enemy, and out of difficult situations the bumbling peasants manage to get them into.
The Hidden Fortress' plot seems simple, but it actually quite elaborate. The seemingly straightforward narrative unfolds in a rather curious way onscreen, mainly because the story is told through the eyes of the peasants rather than their royal masters. They are at the mercy of circumstance, they've been exploited their entire lives. Kurosawa provides a celebratory and critical view of history by showing the excitement of 16th Century Japan while pointing out the ridiculousness of the feudal honor code.
Kurosawa balances valour with greed, seriousness and humour, while demonstrating the misfortunes of war. Using Cinemascope Fortress awes us with its mythical Shakespearean imagery, overwhelming the audience with a great quantity of physical and psychological details. Even the weather becomes part of the story. While a lesser Director would make this a pure action flick, Kurosawa infuses an exhibition of morality alongside its thrills.
In conclusion, The Hidden Fortress is a cinematic adventure that has influenced more than a handful of Directors, including Hayao Miyazaki and his anime feature Princess Mononoke. Kurosawa gave historical Japanese myths a new life that will continue to be reached by audiences around the world. Praise it! 5/5
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