As Kingo Gondo finally gathers all his assets to become the majority shareholder of his company, he receives shocking news: his chauffeur’s son has been kidnapped, and a huge ransom is demanded. Gondo is faced with a moral dilemma: can he sacrifice his entire fortune to save another man’s child?

A masterclass in tension and incisive social commentary, Akira Kurosawa’s sharp hybrid of chamber drama and police procedural is unquestionably one of the most dazzling thrillers ever made. Each immaculately composed shot is a rich evocation of the class conflict set forth in the film’s title.