Engel der Verlorenen (1948)

Engel der Verlorenen: Directed by Akira Kurosawa. With Takashi Shimura, Toshirô Mifune, Reizaburô Yamamoto, Michiyo Kogure. A drunken doctor with a hot temper and a violence-prone gangster with tuberculosis form a quicksilver bond.

“This movie was a big surprise for me. I watched this movie yesterday expecting it to be one of Akira Kurosawau0026#39;s weaker films, but it ended up being my second-favourite Kurosawa film after Seven Samurai. All the other Kurosawa films Iu0026#39;ve seen were set in feudal Japan, so it was quite refreshing to see one set in post-war Japan for a change. While Kurosawau0026#39;s other movies had a major impact on the samurai genre, Drunken Angel was arguably the earliest example of a Yakuza film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUnlike the other Kurosawa movies Iu0026#39;ve seen, I found Drunken Angel gripping from the moment it began. Despite the film being shorter than the other Kurosawa films Iu0026#39;ve seen as well, the character development was very impressive and the ending was powerful. Being Toshiro Mifuneu0026#39;s first major role, he obviously looks younger and hasnu0026#39;t yet developed his unique acting mannerisms. Thatu0026#39;s a good thing though, as it makes him seem like a completely different person in this movie. His portrayal of the Yakuza thug Matsunaga was impressive and very moving. The star of the movie though is Takashi Shimura (another veteran actor of Kurosawa movies), who plays the forward-thinking Dr. Sanada. His sarcastic dialogues in particular were excellent, without feeling clichéd at all.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI think itu0026#39;s a real shame this movie isnu0026#39;t so famous like Kurosawau0026#39;s other movies, but I found this film incredibly moving and it is now my second-favourite Kurosawa film of all time after Seven Samurai.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e9/10”