Dersu Uzala
by Akira Kurosawa
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dmitri Korshikov, Maksim Munzuk, Suimenkul Chokmorov, Svetlana Danilchenko, Yuri SolominDirector: Akira Kurosawa
Brand: IMG
Cinematographer: Asakazu Nakai
Cinematographer: Fyodor Dobronravov
Cinematographer: Yuri Gantman
Writer: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Nikolai Sizov
Producer: Yôichi Matsue
Writer: Vladimir Arsenyev
Writer: Yuri Nagibin
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Russian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 144 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-09-02
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Model: 1722
Studio: Kino Video
Product features:
- DERSU UZALA SERUSU UZARA (DVD MOVIE)
Movie Reviews of Dersu Uzala
Movie Review: This Is Not A Kurosawa Autobiopic
Summary: 5 Stars
You will never have heard this, nor will you be likely to hear it, from any commentator or other source on TV. In the early 20th century, a charming elderly native named Dersu Uzala was murdered near the outskirts of a small Siberian town. Ultimately, his old friend, explorer/surveyor Captain Vladimir Arsenyev, was called out to identify the murdered man. Capt. Arsenyev and Dersu went back a long, long time indeed. Capt. Arsenyev cried at the sight when he arrived.
This film is 100% true, based on Arsenyev's memoir-autobiography. Kurosawa worked very hard to bring that book--and the photos therein--to vivid life. This film is explained that simply. Few people, even in the industry, are aware of any this, but then again, how often do Westerners read Russian memoirs?
This film is a glorious yet soothing story, somehow at odds with the way Americans are supposed to feel about Russians. It is perhaps Akira Kurosawa's finest film ever, though the jury will remain 'out' verdict-wise for another 50 or 100 years on that. The fact that he was a co-writer to Captain Arsenyev does not really help.
This 1975 film took two years to complete (Kurosawa's clinging to a film project for years at a time lost him many actors, including Toshiro Mifune). It is based on the book "With Dersu Uzala" by Captain Vladimir Arsenyev--who helped Kurosawa write the screenplay for the film adaptation of his adventures in Siberia with the real Dersu Uzala.
Dersu was a NANAI tribesman (I've read the descriptive term "Goldi", but I do not know what that is). Dersu was a tribal elder, a hunter, tracker and all around cool Siberian Native. The action takes place mainly in the Usuri Basin of northeastern Siberia, where Capt. Arsenyev was exploring, surveying, mapping and hoping to 'civilize'. Capt. Arsenyev wrote his adventures/memoires in 1923. Few people know that DERSU UZALA is a remake of a 1961 USSR release, directed by Agasi Babayan and written by Igor Bolgarin.
This is a famous and beloved true story in Russia.
The film opens with Capt. Arsenyev (Uri Solomin) exploring with his detachment of men. They happen upon Dersu Uzala (Maxim Munzuk)--or is it vice-versa? They fall for his charm and manners, become amused and cheered by his broken, childlike Russian speech. They also come to depend upon him utterly. Most especially after Dersu saves the captain from freezing to death in a blizzard. So fond do they become of him that when he almost drowns, carried away by a savage river, the men practically kill themselves to save Dersu's life.
We have some ideas of why the Russians were always so captivated by the horrid Siberian land: they wanted to creep into America. Who knows, perhaps one day, they might even conquer us. That never happened, but suspicions remain to this day. The story of Capt. Arsenyev and his relationship with the man who would become a best friend, Dersu Uzala, throws some water on that fire of suspicion. Then again, Kurosawa always loved the Russians.
Critics say this film itself may have saved Kurosawa's life. They say it is an allegorical telling of Kurosawa's tribulations including a much-touted suicide attempt some years earlier than 1975. All probably true, but remember, this film is a true story based on the book, written by the man who (played by an actor) co-stars in the film: Captain Vladimir Arsenyev. Do not forget, Arsenyev was there and co-wrote the picture with Kurosawa, and supervised whenever needed. Without his guidance, Kurosawa could not have brought Dersu Uzala to life. Without Dersu, Vladimir Arsenyev wouldn't have been alive to tell the story.
It is a stunning piece of film, riveting, quietly relentless in its quest to show various stages of this window in Russian history. It does the story justice, and one falls in love with Munzuk's spunky rendition of Dersu. Further, this film should be studied by all film students and film lovers alike. I don't know the full circumstances of Kurosawa's attraction to this project, other than it was good work, but it is a haunting, unforgettable film--surely ranked in the top ten films of all time.
Finally, a word on the dvd: don't fall for the howls of protest that this film doesn't look like the comic book crapola we commonly see. Some of it was roughly filmed with not-so-good equipment, and sometimes Kurosawa deliberately shot badly. It dates from 1975 USSR, so why do you think it ought to look like something made last year? Kurosawa shot at night and during blizzards, with Soviet equipment and money!
What do you want, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS? Besides...this film is so much better.
Summary of Dersu Uzala
Synopsis:Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: ""NR
Street Date: 09/02/03
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
Language""ENGLISH
Foreign Film: yes
Subtitlesyes
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: ""Sleeve""
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