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Julius Caesar Watanabe Effect

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Similar to his other movies Kurosawa depicts the reality of life after WWII; however, in Ikiru he further explains the effects, especially on the individual. Through the use of music and editing Kurosawa attempts to explain the purpose and meaning of life. One of the first scenes in the movie is Watanabe in his office repetitively stamping papers, this is supposed to allude to his lack of purpose and meaning in life, which is then later expanded on when the coworkers are discussing how Watanabe has eaten the same meal everyday.Through these scenes Kurosawa shows how much of his life Watanabe has wasted doing nothing; he worked at the same job for 30 years and had never accomplished anything. It is also shown after Watanabe discovers his cancer, as there is a five day period in which the viewer and other characters do not see him, this furthers the idea that …show more content…

After, he tries to find meaning through his younger coworker he follows her around attempting to learn how she finds meaning in her life. It is during a scene with her that Watanabe discovers that his life could still have meaning and that time had not yet run out, as he descends the staircase of the restaurant the song Happy Birthday is being sung by background characters, this moment and song symbolize Watanabe’s new beginning and in a way his rebirth - as he starts to live life with a purpose. Kurosawa also did not show Watanabe’s death and instead cut from his change in heart to the funeral scene. In doing so Kurosawa separated Watanabe’s life into two distinct parts - the first, in which life has no meaning - and the second, which is all about the actions taken to achieve

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