EPiSODE 102.

“You just like children. Have eyes but don't see. You try live in taiga, soon dead.”

We’re joined by illustrator and poster designer Tony Stella to discuss what might be Akira Kurosawa’s most neglected masterpiece, Dersu Uzala! The trio discusses where the film, an unexpected Russian-Japanese co-production, fits into the filmography of a filmmaker any reasonable cinephile would consider to be among the greatest to ever do it. Coming shortly on the heels of Kurosawa’s suicide attempt, Dersu represents a strange spiritual transformation for the filmmaker but one that led directly to his stunning creative rebirth with Kagemusha, Ran and Dreams. The film follows a Russian army officer in the early 20th century on a series missions exploring the far reaches of the taiga on the border between Russia and China. On his initial trip into the extreme and unforgiving wilderness, he meets the titular character, a strange woodsman who yells at fire, shoots with supernatural accuracy, and knows the landscape better than anyone who ever lived. It’s the story of an unlikely friendship between impressive, seemingly indomitable men.

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