Madadayo

Made in 1993 when he was 83, this is Akira Kurosawa's 30th and last film, and one could not have asked for a more lovely or moving swan song. Tatsuo Matsumura stars as Hyakken Uchida, a venerable teacher who after 30 years decides to retire to pursue his writing career. Over the course of two decades, his devoted students gather each year to celebrate his birthday with him. They ask, "Mahda-kai? (Are you ready?)" He downs a glass of beer and replies, "Madadayo (Not yet)." Early on, one student calls Uchida "solid gold with no impurities." So is this deliberately-paced film, which--while not rich in incident (a missing cat is the dramatic highpoint)--is deeply-felt. Through the years, Uchida maintains his honor and his dignity, even after he is bombed out of his home during World War II. "We look up to our teacher, thinking of our debt," the students sing. Filmmakers could say the same about Kurosawa. Highly recommended. (K. Lee Benson)