This is a film that depicts isolationism, captivity, the search for purpose, and man’s ability to cope in dire situations. It was realistic to the point that I kept trying to brush the sand off. It was a much stronger film than Teshigahara’s debut, Pitfall.

@BIBA THE ONE... I'm pretty sure the cow that gets set on fire was covered in asbestos, which prevented it from actually burning... as for the horse, it was obtained from a slaughterhouse and was supposed to be killed the following day. Not that either of these isn't still cruelty to animals necessarily, but it does provide a little more context around the film.

I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek commentary on these stuck up people with their hidden fears, insecurities, and imperfections. The use of dreams was interesting, and there were some great memorable scenes, like the dead man in the restaurant and the soldier’s murdered parents. The voyeuristic scene where the curtain opens and they are being watched by an audience was excellent.

Good story of revenge with a fair share of twists. The scene composition and blocking were perfect, but Mifune seemed to be the only worthy actor on the screen. I felt the story may have been more powerful if Kurosawa had shaved 30 minutes or so.

One of the more disturbing of Haneke's work, and a compelling commentary on teen violence. His use of news articles as concepts for his films makes this all the more frightening.

I agree with Petaccio down below, and I think this should be a high school requirement film.

For those of you that felt this film was muddled or made no sense, you need to drop what you're doing and go watch The Battle of Algiers. There is a lot going on behind the scenes here, mainly the racial/social tensions between France and Algeria.

Very subtle film, but powerful and foreboding. It may not be immediately apparent, but the lead, Kotov, is played by the director. If you want to see one of his films with more glamor and action, check out Barber of Siberia. Great stuff!

The concept of coordinating hundreds of actors is astounding - the ballroom scene is excellent, but to me the most powerful shot is the final one - the ark, the Russian spirit - in its complexities and depth continues throughout history.