
The Bad Sleep Well is one of Kurosawa's social problem films that takes place in a contemporary setting, which allows him to explore the theme of corruption. It has been somewhat of a surprise when I first started viewing Kurosawa's films to see the western influence in his films. generally he takes a western concept, theme, or story and puts it through his own cultural filter. Thus, Hamlet, becomes the story template in which Kurosawa explores the idea of corruption, revenge, and justice. It has been said that MacBeth and hamlet were Kurosawa's two favorite Shakespeare plays, and his homage to MacBeth is the excellent samurai film Throne of Blood, and Ran is his interpretation of King Lear as well. The film's content and themes also reflect a debt to film noir, as corruption, intrigue, and payback figure into the storyline's plot. It's interesting to see how he employs aspects of Hamlet in the film. For example, at the wedding of Nishi and the boss' daughter, Nishi has a cake replica of the office building with a black roses coming form the window and floor of the building where Nishi's father was pushed from the window sent to the wedding in order to judge from the reactions of he guests who is guilty-much like the play within a play in Hamlet. I think Kurosawa was making films in an era where people were patient enough to sit through a 2 hour plot driven film without complaint. I find it a bit trying given my MTV generation attention span. However, I found it to be an interesting production, although it isn't one of my favorites, but it is punctuated with many familiar Kurosawa conceits like the powerful rain, musical motifs, and his impressive framing of dramatic shots. This film was made in 1960, but Kurosawa doesn't dismiss the past so easily; much of the action takes place at a bombed out factory a remnant form the war where Nishi and his friend had worked and survived on the sale of black market oil. It's not a major key to the plot, but it shows Kurosawa's acknowledgement of hard times that had been overcome. But at what price? These men did what they had to do to survive, however the corrupt businessmen are not only lining their pockets but murdering people to keep it covered up. There's always something interesting to look at in a Kurosawa film-likewise he often gives you something interesting to think about as well.
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