'Sanshiro Sugata Part II', unlike the first film from 1943, is essentially a propaganda film, but don't let that dissuade you from seeing it as there are sequences in the film that display Kurosawa's growing strengths as a filmmaker.
The story line is rather muddled but basically Sugata feels as if the traditional Japanese forms of martial arts are facing extinction with the emerging popularity of American boxing. Sugata aims to preserve that by defeating a notorious American boxer while extinguishing threats from two karate masters obsessed with destroying him. In the end, Sugata easily crushes his American opponent and brings the two karate masters into his fold.
Clearly the film is about uniting the Japanese people and culture against the American menace and its potential to destroy the Japanese people and their way of life. When the film was shot in early 1945 the war was going horribly for Japan and bombs were raining down upon their cities. The Japanese government ordered Kurosawa to make this film to help shore up domestic support for the Japanese cause and to also suggest that the coming Americans may spell doom for their people and way of life.
Now Kurosawa created two very interesting sequences in this picture. One is where Sugata is watching the first fight between the American and Japanese and how disgusted he was with how things unfolded. Kurosawa does a series of close-ups of Sugata and then cuts to his point-of-view as he observes people cheering at the violence, laughing, etc...and with each reverse to Sugata you can feel his disgust. It's a very well done montage without any dialogue except for the noise of the fight and the cheers.
The other is the final battle between Sugata and the karate master atop a mountain with wind and snow blasting all around them. This is one of the earliest examples of Kurosawa using extreme weather elements in the midst of a battle or confrontation, and it is very well done. This notion of extreme weather during a battle or struggle occurs in a number of his pictures including 'The Seven Samurai', 'Dreams', and 'Yojimbo'. As in those later pictures, the extreme weather heightens the tension, creates dynamic images, and visuals expresses the rage and confusion and frustration of the characters, much like earlier German Expressionism.
So while 'Sanshiro Sugata Part II' is not a classic Kurosawa picture with its choppy story line and overt propaganda, it still is an interesting film that shows his growing prowess as a filmmaker. Give a look Kurosawa fans.
The story line is rather muddled but basically Sugata feels as if the traditional Japanese forms of martial arts are facing extinction with the emerging popularity of American boxing. Sugata aims to preserve that by defeating a notorious American boxer while extinguishing threats from two karate masters obsessed with destroying him. In the end, Sugata easily crushes his American opponent and brings the two karate masters into his fold.
Clearly the film is about uniting the Japanese people and culture against the American menace and its potential to destroy the Japanese people and their way of life. When the film was shot in early 1945 the war was going horribly for Japan and bombs were raining down upon their cities. The Japanese government ordered Kurosawa to make this film to help shore up domestic support for the Japanese cause and to also suggest that the coming Americans may spell doom for their people and way of life.
Now Kurosawa created two very interesting sequences in this picture. One is where Sugata is watching the first fight between the American and Japanese and how disgusted he was with how things unfolded. Kurosawa does a series of close-ups of Sugata and then cuts to his point-of-view as he observes people cheering at the violence, laughing, etc...and with each reverse to Sugata you can feel his disgust. It's a very well done montage without any dialogue except for the noise of the fight and the cheers.
The other is the final battle between Sugata and the karate master atop a mountain with wind and snow blasting all around them. This is one of the earliest examples of Kurosawa using extreme weather elements in the midst of a battle or confrontation, and it is very well done. This notion of extreme weather during a battle or struggle occurs in a number of his pictures including 'The Seven Samurai', 'Dreams', and 'Yojimbo'. As in those later pictures, the extreme weather heightens the tension, creates dynamic images, and visuals expresses the rage and confusion and frustration of the characters, much like earlier German Expressionism.
So while 'Sanshiro Sugata Part II' is not a classic Kurosawa picture with its choppy story line and overt propaganda, it still is an interesting film that shows his growing prowess as a filmmaker. Give a look Kurosawa fans.