Amateur Recommendation Hour: Stray Dog

Today’s recommendation is the oldest work I’ve yet talked about, but one that I believe is essential to anyone who is interested in the earlier day of the medium of film. I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to this era of filmmaking that I’m not quite as well-versed as I’d like to be and probably should be. I still believe that this film stands the test of time very well, regardless of whether or not I'm qualified to make these kinds of claims (trust me I'm not).

Stray Dog, directed by Akira Kurosawa, possibly the most well-known Japanese filmmaker not just of his time but all-time, is a film that takes place in and is from 1949. A young and inexperienced police officer on the Tokyo police force is riding on a bus during a very hot summer day when he realizes that his gun has been stolen from his holster. Apprehensive about admitting his mistake to his superiors, he initially goes it alone in the crime-ridden and economically ravaged criminal underworld. When his missing gun is implicated in a crime spree he decides to rely on a more experienced detective’s methodology.

As you would imagine this film is full of Kurosawa’s innovative shot framing and cinematography, full of very deliberate and brisk pans as well as more aggressive curved shots. While it’s plot is slowly paced not only did the methodical pace feel intentional but I believe enhances the overall experience of what is considered to be the precursor to the “buddy-cop” and police procedural genre of films. The moments of tension are sparsely placed, never allowing the audience to be desensitized to them, but when action occurs, you know it’s going to lead to an important plot development going deeper than simple suspense.

I believe this work to be about the sense of loss and guilt felt amongst the collective Japanese population post-World War II, with the lost gun being used as symbolism for the chaos, uncertainty, and feelings of powerlessness during their reconstruction. In a way I think it somewhat relates to the sentiments felt by modern Japanese society and their mentality towards firearms being possessed by civilians. A huge responsibility that they believe should only belong to those fully qualified and authorized to bear arms.

Interestingly enough Kurosawa was initially colder on the film after its release, calling it “too technical” though ultimately remarking in his autobiography released in 1982 that “no shooting ever went as smoothly.” Maybe perfectionism got the better of him in the initial time after its wide release. As someone who constantly has to remind myself that I should strive for excellence, not perfection, I can completely understand if that was the case.

I never think that the year of creation should become a barrier to great art. Stellar paintings of art by Van Gogh or Rembrandt are just as valid as modern masterpieces and the same should be true of a medium like film.