The Quiet Duel is a 1949 Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa starring Toshirō Mifune, this film is a tale of an army surgeon whose happy life and bright future became bleak when he contracted a sexually transmitted disease known as syphilis, after performing a life saving operation. Unfortunately, the disease was said to be incurable during the 19th century. In this case, Fujisaki decided to return home after the war. His very intent was to help his father who worked as an obstetrician.
In the movie, the havoc of the contagious disease wrecked his scheduled altar date with his one true love for years. Despite of the unbearable pain and emotional torture it had caused him, he remained a noble person with an unquestionable integrity. “How did I judge the movie?” Well, actually this melodrama contained the brilliant touches of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Allow me to begin with the opening sequence of the film. Fujisaki, portrayed by Toshiro Mifune had performed the operation with less optimal conditions. I had said this because in the scene, a nurse used a tin pot to get a “thing”, of which I did not have a clear idea what seemed to be the reason behind this annoying technique. In addition, the continuous plucking sounds against a deafening silence. I think these disturbing conditions had greatly affected his effectiveness as a doctor.
On the part of the notable surgeon, he cannot seem to control the sweat on his brow. Out of frustration, he opted to remove his gloves to finish tying a suture; cutting his hand on a scalpel. To fulfill his oath as a physician, he was caught unaware that the person he was saving had a disease, which drastically changed his life for the worst. Because of the incident, the character cannot disclose the reason why his forthcoming marriage was held in abeyance. On the other hand. to make the movie more beautiful. Kurosawa employed shadowing techniques and unique framing skills to enhance the storyline. He did this by shooting the holes, broken windows or the long corridors. To make it more realistic, Mifune appeared to be tense. Indeed, it was a perfect shot! Undoubtedly, this was one of the best films that Kurosawa had ever created.
The lesson that I had learned after I had seen the movie? Each one of us has a mission to do. Overall, this movie is highly recommended.
[flv:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYq5_-fCoEc 250 185]
