"The Rickshaw Man" (1958) is an excellent comedy-drama film starring Toshiro Mifune, who plays Matsu, a rickshaw driver. This movie is also known as "Muhomatsu, the Rickshaw Man." The film is set in 1905 Japan, where industrialization is beginning to replace older traditions.
When a military wife's husband dies, Matsu becomes a mentor for her son. Matsu secretly falls in love with the widow, yet knows he cannot have a relationship with her, because of his lower social status.
Matsu is a tough, rowdy man, with a sense of humor and a great heart. Despite his poverty, Matsu lives his life to the fullest. He enjoys life, and can find happiness in many places.
This movie is beautifully filmed in color, and there are scenes of traditional Japanese parades, fireworks, concerts and sports events. In one scene, Matsu skillfully drums a traditional song on a huge kodo drum, which delights the audience.
There are also surrealistic recurring images of wheels, which represent the passage of time.
This movie won the Golden Lion prize for Best Film at the 1958 Venice Film Festival. It deserves to be on DVD.
When a military wife's husband dies, Matsu becomes a mentor for her son. Matsu secretly falls in love with the widow, yet knows he cannot have a relationship with her, because of his lower social status.
Matsu is a tough, rowdy man, with a sense of humor and a great heart. Despite his poverty, Matsu lives his life to the fullest. He enjoys life, and can find happiness in many places.
This movie is beautifully filmed in color, and there are scenes of traditional Japanese parades, fireworks, concerts and sports events. In one scene, Matsu skillfully drums a traditional song on a huge kodo drum, which delights the audience.
There are also surrealistic recurring images of wheels, which represent the passage of time.
This movie won the Golden Lion prize for Best Film at the 1958 Venice Film Festival. It deserves to be on DVD.