The Idiot(1951) — Trusted

Plays Kameda’s rival and friend with "crazy eyes" and explosive energy.

The film is as famous for its production history as its content. Originally, Kurosawa turned in a cut that was over four hours long. The studio, horrified by the length, forced him to cut it down to its current 166-minute version. Kurosawa was so distraught by the editing process that he reportedly told the studio, "If you want to cut it anymore, you’d better just cut it lengthwise". The Idiot(1951)

Known for her restrained roles in Ozu’s films, she delivers a shockingly melodramatic performance here as the disgraced woman caught between the two men. Plays Kameda’s rival and friend with "crazy eyes"

Despite the hostile reviews it received upon release, The Idiot remained one of Kurosawa’s personal favorites. He felt he had succeeded in capturing the spirit of the source material and that the struggle to make the film made him a stronger filmmaker. Today, it is viewed as a fascinating "test site" for the themes of moral sincerity and social corruption that would define his later masterpieces like Ikiru . Film Club: The Idiot (1951) - Akira Kurosawa info The studio, horrified by the length, forced him

Portrays the "idiot" with a combination of physical tics and deep, soulful sincerity.

This heavy editing left the film with a fractured, episodic feel, but many critics argue that this "brokenness" actually enhances the movie's haunting, dreamlike quality. The Performative Extremes